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Ready, Willing and Able

  • 19371937
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
298
YOUR RATING
Lee Dixon and Ruby Keeler in Ready, Willing and Able (1937)
ComedyMusicalRomance
Two songwriters want to cast a British star in their new show.Two songwriters want to cast a British star in their new show.Two songwriters want to cast a British star in their new show.
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
298
YOUR RATING
    • Ray Enright
  • Writers
    • Jerry Wald(screen play)
    • Sig Herzig(screen play)
    • Warren Duff(screen play)
  • Stars
    • Ruby Keeler
    • Lee Dixon
    • Allen Jenkins
    • Ray Enright
  • Writers
    • Jerry Wald(screen play)
    • Sig Herzig(screen play)
    • Warren Duff(screen play)
  • Stars
    • Ruby Keeler
    • Lee Dixon
    • Allen Jenkins
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar

    Photos34

    Lee Dixon and Ruby Keeler in Ready, Willing and Able (1937)
    Ruby Keeler in Ready, Willing and Able (1937)
    Ruby Keeler in Ready, Willing and Able (1937)
    Ruby Keeler in Ready, Willing and Able (1937)
    Ruby Keeler in Ready, Willing and Able (1937)
    Ruby Keeler in Ready, Willing and Able (1937)
    Ruby Keeler in Ready, Willing and Able (1937)
    Ruby Keeler in Ready, Willing and Able (1937)
    Ruby Keeler and Hugh O'Connell in Ready, Willing and Able (1937)
    Virginia Dabney, Ruby Keeler, Helen Lynn, and Beatrice Hagen in Ready, Willing and Able (1937)
    Ross Alexander and Ruby Keeler in Ready, Willing and Able (1937)
    Ruby Keeler in Ready, Willing and Able (1937)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ruby Keeler
    Ruby Keeler
    • Jane
    Lee Dixon
    Lee Dixon
    • Pinky Blair
    Allen Jenkins
    Allen Jenkins
    • J. Van Courtland
    Louise Fazenda
    Louise Fazenda
    • Clara Heineman
    Ross Alexander
    Ross Alexander
    • Barry Granville
    Carol Hughes
    Carol Hughes
    • Angie
    Hugh O'Connell
    Hugh O'Connell
    • Truman Hardy
    Wini Shaw
    Wini Shaw
    • Jane Clarke
    Teddy Hart
    • Yip Nolan
    Addison Richards
    Addison Richards
    • Edward McNeil
    Al Shaw
    • Moving Man
    • (as Shaw)
    Sam Lee
    • Moving Man
    • (as Lee)
    E.E. Clive
    E.E. Clive
    • Sir Samuel Buffington (Credits)…
    Jane Wyman
    Jane Wyman
    • Dot
    May Boley
    May Boley
    • Mrs. Beadle
    Charles Halton
    Charles Halton
    • Brockman
    Adrian Rosley
    • Angelo
    Lillian Kemble-Cooper
    Lillian Kemble-Cooper
    • Mrs. Buffington (Credits)
    • (as Lillian Kemble Cooper)
    • …
      • Ray Enright
    • Writers
      • Jerry Wald(screen play)
      • Sig Herzig(screen play)
      • Warren Duff(screen play)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Final film of Ross Alexander. NOTE: He committed suicide two months before this film was released. Because of this event, Warners eliminated his name from the above title credits, substituted that of Lee Dixon--who actually had little more to do than to serve as Ruby Keeler's dancing partner in an otherwise subordinate role--and relegated Alexander's credit to that of a member of the supporting cast, even though he played the leading male role, and Keeler's romantic lead. Reportedly, James Newill dubbed Alexander's singing voice.
    • Quotes

      Pinky Blair: Hiya, baby! Hey, did you hear my last song?

      Dot: I hope so!

      Pinky Blair: Dot, what do you think I am now?

      Dot: Well, a man who had been valet to a seal could be anything!

      Pinky Blair: You guessed it. He's an actors' agent.

      Dot: An agent? You have hit a new low!

    • Connections
      Referenced in The Honeymooners: The $99,000 Answer (1956)
    • Soundtracks
      Too Marvelous for Words
      (1937) (uncredited)

      Music by Richard A. Whiting

      Lyrics by Johnny Mercer

      Played during the opening and end credits and as background music

      Played on piano by Lee Dixon and spoken by Ross Alexander

      Reprised on piano by Lee Dixon at a party

      Sung by Ross Alexander at a party

      Was the show's big production number at its opening, sung by Ross Alexander (dubbed by James Newill) and Wini Shaw and chorus,

      and danced to by Ruby Keeler, Lee Dixon and chorus

    User reviews13

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10
    The swansong of Ross Alexander and the last film of Ruby Keeler for Warner Bros
    As people have already noted, 'Ready, Willing and Able' is notable for being Ross Alexander's swansong before his tragic suicide and Ruby Keeler's last film for Warner Bros, but they certainly aren't the only notable factors of the film.

    'Ready, Willing and Able' is not a great film, but it does have enough to make it watchable. Keeler is a very charming screen presence, and Alexander a likable leading man. Most of the supporting cast also fare well, with the hoots that are Allen Jenkins and Louisa Fazenda faring best. Wini Shaw is also very winning, as is Jane Wyman.

    Of the song score, only one is really outstanding. That is the sublime "Too Marvellous for Words", though "Be Handy on Your Feet" is also catchy and "Just a Quiet Evening" very listenable. Don't remember much of the rest though. The classical music selections of Schumann, Chopin and Liszt are also a delight.

    The film looks pretty good, apart from the odd tacky moment, it is very skilfully photographed and while not exactly expansive the set is generally a long way from cheap.

    Conversely, to me Lee Dixon was wooden in acting and even more so in his dancing, which doesn't look natural or rhythmic at all. There is a lack of chemistry between Keeler and Dixon, though occasionally a sweet one with Alexander, just that one does miss Dick Powell (who one can't help thinking that he would have been a better choice). The story, even for a film musical, is overly simplistic, goes overboard with the silliness and dumbness and is as thin as thin ice.

    Even flimsier is the hugely underwritten and dull script, that's far too lightweight. Of the choreography and dancing, the only one that stands out is the clever type-writing sequence. The others are pedestrian and under-cooked, am aware that one shouldn't expect Busby Bekeley to be involved in every film musical around this time but the songs generally did deserve better treatment than the indifference they were given here, this was a film that cried out for his involvement really.

    All in all, watchable but not great. 5/10 Bethany Cox
    helpful•4
    1
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Nov 5, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 6, 1937 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 33 minutes
      • Black and White
      • Mono

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