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Swingtime in the Movies

  • 19381938
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 20m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
335
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
John Carroll, Jerry Colonna, Fritz Feld, Charley Foy, Kathryn Kane, and Helen Lynd in Swingtime in the Movies (1938)
  • Musical
  • Short
  • Comedy
In this musical short, a director named Nitvitch, unhappy with the lead actress in his Western, makes an unexpected discovery in the studio cafe where some big stars are being served by a be... Read allIn this musical short, a director named Nitvitch, unhappy with the lead actress in his Western, makes an unexpected discovery in the studio cafe where some big stars are being served by a bevy of beautiful singing, dancing waitresses.In this musical short, a director named Nitvitch, unhappy with the lead actress in his Western, makes an unexpected discovery in the studio cafe where some big stars are being served by a bevy of beautiful singing, dancing waitresses.
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
335
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Crane Wilbur
  • Writer
    • Crane Wilbur(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Fritz Feld
    • Kathryn Kane
    • John Carroll
Top credits
  • Director
    • Crane Wilbur
  • Writer
    • Crane Wilbur(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Fritz Feld
    • Kathryn Kane
    • John Carroll
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 11User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos9

    Swingtime in the Movies (1938)
    Kathryn Kane in Swingtime in the Movies (1938)
    John Garfield, Priscilla Lane, and Rosemary Lane in Swingtime in the Movies (1938)
    Jerry Colonna in Swingtime in the Movies (1938)
    Helen Lynd in Swingtime in the Movies (1938)
    Charley Foy and Jack Perrin in Swingtime in the Movies (1938)
    Humphrey Bogart, Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Billy Halop, Bobby Jordan, and Kenner G. Kemp in Swingtime in the Movies (1938)
    John Carroll and Kathryn Kane in Swingtime in the Movies (1938)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Fritz Feld
    Fritz Feld
    • Mr. Nitvitchas Mr. Nitvitch
    Kathryn Kane
    Kathryn Kane
    • Joan Masonas Joan Mason
    John Carroll
    John Carroll
    • Rick Ardenas Rick Arden
    Charley Foy
    Charley Foy
    • Sammyas Sammy
    Jerry Colonna
    Jerry Colonna
    • The Texas Tornadoas The Texas Tornado
    Helen Lynd
    Helen Lynd
    • Lorna - An Actressas Lorna - An Actress
    Irene Franklin
    Irene Franklin
    • Kate - Head Waitressas Kate - Head Waitress
    Humphrey Bogart
    Humphrey Bogart
    • Humphrey Bogartas Humphrey Bogart
    • (uncredited)
    George Brent
    George Brent
    • George Brentas George Brent
    • (uncredited)
    John Garfield
    John Garfield
    • John Garfieldas John Garfield
    • (uncredited)
    Leo Gorcey
    Leo Gorcey
    • Crime School Kidas Crime School Kid
    • (uncredited)
    Huntz Hall
    Huntz Hall
    • Crime School Kidas Crime School Kid
    • (uncredited)
    Billy Halop
    Billy Halop
    • Crime School Kidas Crime School Kid
    • (uncredited)
    Tex Harper
    • Movie Set Cowboyas Movie Set Cowboy
    • (uncredited)
    Stuart Holmes
    Stuart Holmes
    • Studio Lot Extraas Studio Lot Extra
    • (uncredited)
    Bobby Jordan
    Bobby Jordan
    • Crime School Kidas Crime School Kid
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Kane
    Eddie Kane
    • Bob O'Donnell, Exhibitor from Dallasas Bob O'Donnell, Exhibitor from Dallas
    • (uncredited)
    Kenner G. Kemp
    Kenner G. Kemp
    • Man in Studio Cafeas Man in Studio Cafe
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Crane Wilbur
    • Writer
      • Crane Wilbur(original screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Trouble is brewing on the set of the musical western, "The Texas Tornado". Nitvitch, the director, is having problems getting his leading lady to speak with a southern accent. When he inadvertently mentions in the Studio Canteen that he is looking for a replacement actress who can do a southern accent for the part, Nitvitch gets throes of aspiring young actresses clamoring at him. However, the one who catches his attention is Joan Mason, a true southerner who is working as a waitress in the canteen. Joan hopes to make the most of her starring opportunity. —Huggo
    • singer
    • singing cowboy
    • movie studio
    • slang
    • bartender
    • 23 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Musical
      • Short
      • Comedy
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This is John Garfield's only theatrical release in Technicolor.
    • Goofs
      In the saloon when Joan Mason is holding the gun on the man she thinks is The Texas Tornado, he grabs the gun and spins Joan to his left, her body blocking the gun from view. There is a cut, and he breaks into a song. Joan tries to run away, and as her previously hidden hand comes into view, the gun is no longer there.
    • Crazy credits
      All the stars with cameos, beginning with Humphrey Bogart, are identified by the head waitress at the studio cafeteria (played by Irene Franklin).
    • Connections
      Edited into Musical Movieland (1944)
    • Soundtracks
      You Oughta Be in Pictures
      (uncredited)

      Music by Dana Suesse

      Lyrics by Edward Heyman

      Performed by studio orchestra

    User reviews11

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    A giant ad for Warner Brothers disguised as a mini-musical.
    When "Swingtime in the Movies" begins, you might wonder why Warner Brothers spent all that money for Technicolor (which was MUCH more expensive than black & white film stock). Then, a few minutes into the film, you realize why....it's all a giant advertisement for Warner Brothers movies and stars.

    This short is supposed to be about the making of a western musical...complete with a temperamental foreign director and John CarrolL in the lead. But when it comes to the female lead, the actress chosen is all wrong...and so the nutty director is now in search of someone to play a nice southern girl in the film.

    Insert ad! The film crew break for lunch and then go to the commissary. There, you see several top Warner stars supposedly enjoying lunch there...including Pat O'Brien, Humphrey Bogart and George Brent. It's pretty obvious these stars really were NOT in the scene and were added later....and it's all just an opportunity to show these stars and mention their current projects in the hope that audiences run like lemmings to see these films.

    Then, after lunch, the shooting of the western musical continues...with a waitress 'discovered' in the commissary to play the southern gal! I am sure that happened all the time! It's all very silly...though I was very impressed with Carroll's voice. I've heard him sing in a few other films...here his voice is very strong and almost operatic. In fact, it's really the ONLY reason to see...and hear this film. He's terrific...the rest of it, silly and forgettable.
    helpful•1
    0
    • planktonrules
    • Jul 30, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 24, 1938 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Technicolor Specials (1938-1939) #3: Swingtime in the Movies
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      20 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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