Stolen Harmony (1935)

Much more diverting than it sounds; for the first half of its running time this seems merely an amiably inconsequential series of musical numbers without anything resembling a plot but sufficing nonetheless. (Spoiler coming:) Then suddenly gangsters are added to the mix to generate enough action for a separate film in its own right and a climax worthy of late thirties Warner Bros. at its grittiest!

Looking good thanks to veteran cameraman Harry Fischbeck and slickly edited by Otho Lovering, the proceeding are presided over with unctuous charm by Ben Bernie travelling about the Midwest in an amazing futurist bus. A youthful George Raft in his early song-and-dance man persona makes a surprisingly engaging hero surrounded by a lively cast (many of them uncredited) including both gals and gangsters, with tall, horsey-faced Goodee Montgomery briefly proving to be more than just good with a wisecrack when brought onstage to perform at one point as an eccentric dancer.

Great fun and a neglected find well worth catching!