One Good Turn

A Warner Bros. VITAPHONE VARIETIES Short Subject.

A celebrated vaudeville chanteuse gives her unappreciated accompanist ONE GOOD TURN, much to her regret...

This is a pleasant little film, if somewhat uneven stylistically, which features Miss Ruth Etting, one of the popular singers of the period. She is in good voice - singing 'If I Could Be With You' with co-star Jay Velie - and handles the dramatic aspects of the role competently.

In the early days of the Talkies, when the movies were still reveling in their discovery of Sound - and, consequently, Noise - the musical Short Subject was a very natural development. Here the Studios could showcase vocal talent quite economically and gauge the audiences' responses. Virtual unknowns might become superstars, while veteran Broadway performers, without screen charisma, could quickly fizzle. Many of these Shorts still exist, allowing us to peep into a bygone era when Tin Pan Alley first collided with Hollywood.