New Faces of 1937

New Faces of 1937 is a 1937 American musical film directed by Leigh Jason and starring Joe Penner, Milton Berle and Harriet Hilliard. Its plot is similar to The Producers (1968). Intended as the first film of an annual RKO Pictures revue series, poor reception ended plans for future productions.

New Faces of 1937
Lobby card to New Faces of 1937
Directed by	Leigh Jason James Anderson (assistant)
Written by	Story: George Bradshaw ("Shoestring") Sketch: David Freedman ("A Day at the Brokers") Adaptation: Harold Kussell Harry Clork Howard J. Green Screenplay: Nat Perrin Philip G. Epstein Irv S. Brecher
Produced by	Edward Small
Starring	Joe Penner Milton Berle Parkyakarkus Harriet Hilliard William Brady Jerome Cowan Thelma Leeds
Cinematography	J. Roy Hunt
Edited by	George Crone
Music by	Roy Webb
Production company	Edward Small Productions for RKO Radio Pictures
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures (1937) (USA) (theatrical) C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV) RKO Home Video (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
Release date	July 2, 1937 (1937-07-02)
Running time	100 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$728,000[1]
Box office	$775,000[1]

Plot

A crooked theatrical producer deliberately sets about creating an unsuccessful show after selling more than 100% of it to investors.

Cast

• Joe Penner as Seymore Seymore, aspiring actor
• Milton Berle as Wallington 'Wally' Wedge
• Parkyakarkus as Parky
• Harriet Hilliard as Patricia 'Pat' Harrington
• William Brady as James 'Jimmy' Thompson
• Jerome Cowan as Robert Hunt
• Thelma Leeds as Elaine Dorset
• Lorraine Krueger as Suzy
• Tommy Mack as Judge Hugo Straight, Conductor
• Bert Gordon as Count Mischa Moody
• Patricia Wilder as Pat, Hunt's Secretary
• Richard Lane as Harry Barnes, Broker
• Dudley Clements as Plunkett, Stage Manager
• William Corson as Assistant Stage Manager
• George Rosener as Peter, Stage Doorman
• Dewey Robinson as Joe Guzzola
• Harry C. Bradley as Count Moody's Secretary

Production

An alternate title for this film, which was in production from late March to mid-May 1937, had been listed as Young People. Singer Rene Stone, who appears in the film, was discovered by Edward Small singing while cleaning dishes in a Manhattan restaurant.^[2]

Soundtrack

• "New Faces"

(1937)

Music and Lyrics by Charles Henderson

Played during the opening credits

Sung and danced by showgirls (including The Brian Sisters) and showboys to open the final show

Danced by Ann Miller

Sung by Harriet Hilliard and showgirls

• "The Widow in Lace"

(1937)

Music by Harold Spina

Lyrics by Walter Bullock

Sung by Thelma Leeds and showgirls at rehearsal

Played and danced by unidentified children, probably The Loria Brothers

• "Our Penthouse on Third Avenue"

(1937)

Music by Sammy Fain

Lyrics by Lew Brown

Played on piano by Harriet Hilliard and sung by her and William Brady

• "It Goes to Your Feet"

(1937)

Music by Sammy Fain

Lyrics by Lew Brown

Played and sung by Eddie Rio and Brothers

Danced by Lowe, Hite and Stanley act, with Lorraine Krueger

• "If I Didn't Have You"

(1937)

Music by Sammy Fain

Lyrics by Lew Brown

Sung by Harriet Hilliard and William Brady

• "Love Is Never Out of Season"

(1937)

Music by Sammy Fain

Lyrics by Lew Brown

Sung by William Brady and danced by Harriet Hilliard and male chorus

• "When the Berry Blossoms Bloom"

(1937)

Written by Joe Penner and Hal Raynor

Sung and danced by Joe Penner in the show

• "Peckin'"

(1936)

Music and Lyrics by Ben Pollack and Harry James

Additional lyrics by Eddie Cherkose (1937)

Sung and danced by The Three Chocolateers, The Four Playboys and chorus in the big finale in the show

• "Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)"

(uncredited)

from "Lohengrin"

Music by Richard Wagner

Swing version in the song "Peckin'"

• "The Wedding March"

(uncredited)

from "A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61"

Music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

Swing version in the song "Peckin'"

Reception

The film recorded a loss of $258,000.^[1] Reviews were mixed.^[3][4]

The film was meant to be the first in a series of musical revues designed to introduce new RKO talent, but this did not eventuate. Film writers Richard B. Jewell and Vernon Harbin wrote that:

Containing not a single memorable musical number or inspired comedy routine, this tedious mish-mash caused the studio embarrassment a-plenty. Theatre owners and audiences displayed such hostility towards the Edward Small production in general, and Penner and Parkyakaras in particular, that RKO cancelled plans to make a New Faces of 1938.^[5]

References

1. Richard Jewel, 'RKO Film Grosses: 1931–1951', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 14 No 1, 1994 p57
2. Read, Kendall. (May 18, 1937). "Around and About in Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. p. 10.
3. "THE THEATRE: Top Summer Fare". Wall Street Journal. July 2, 1937. p. 13.
4. FRANK S. NUGENT (July 2, 1937). "THE SCREEN: A Suspicious Glance at 'New Faces of 1937,' at the Music Hall-New Films at Rialto and Palace At the Rialto". New York Times. p. 25.
5. Richard B. Jewell & Vernon Harbin, The RKO Story, Octopus 1984 p 108

External links

• New Faces of 1937 at IMDb
• New Faces of 1937 at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
• New Faces of 1937 at The New York Times
• New Faces of 1937 at Answers.com
• New Faces of 1937 at Flixster
• New Faces of 1937 at the TCM Movie Database
• "Wanna Buy a Duck?" New Faces of 1937, by Craig Hodgkins