I picked up this movie under the re-issue title "Movie Struck", appropriate enough for the film's premise - a starry eyed Cecilia Moore (Rosina Lawrence) longs for a Hollywood career and sees her chance in the "On to Hollywood Beauty and Talent Contest". Though she wins against a handful of contestants (among them Miss Gopher City), the contest promoter runs off with the prize money, leaving Cecilia in a lurch. A series of fantastic coincidences eventually land Cecilia and her sister Nellie (Patsy Kelly) in Hollywood, while Cecilia's would be boy friend Joe Jenkins (Jack Haley) masquerades as an important man with connections who conspires to get her a screen test. Rounding out the main cast is Mischa Auer, a debonair Hollywood star who's forte seems to be seducing young, beautiful women. In this case, the casting was a bit off base, as his character Rinaldo Lopez is more a caricature than a romantic leading man.
The story itself moves along rather blandly, and Cecilia's big break screen test winds up incredibly boring considering the consequences. What gives the movie it's much needed comic relief are two terrific bits featuring Laurel and Hardy, first as a pair of Mexican bandits in business suits, and later in a funny harmonica duel. Even though you may find this film featuring the comic duo on a video sleeve, their actual screen time is probably less than ten minutes all told.
I'd be curious to know if the salon scene is the first in movies to portray an overtly gay male hair dresser; it's a short scene but the depiction is obvious.
With not much in the story of note other then Laurel and Hardy's antics, I'm pressed to give it much more than a lukewarm recommendation. By 1937, a lot of their best work was already behind them, so it's surprising they weren't used more here. The big winner coming out of the film seems to be Jack Haley, who became the "Wizard of Oz" Tin Man in a couple more years.
The story itself moves along rather blandly, and Cecilia's big break screen test winds up incredibly boring considering the consequences. What gives the movie it's much needed comic relief are two terrific bits featuring Laurel and Hardy, first as a pair of Mexican bandits in business suits, and later in a funny harmonica duel. Even though you may find this film featuring the comic duo on a video sleeve, their actual screen time is probably less than ten minutes all told.
I'd be curious to know if the salon scene is the first in movies to portray an overtly gay male hair dresser; it's a short scene but the depiction is obvious.
With not much in the story of note other then Laurel and Hardy's antics, I'm pressed to give it much more than a lukewarm recommendation. By 1937, a lot of their best work was already behind them, so it's surprising they weren't used more here. The big winner coming out of the film seems to be Jack Haley, who became the "Wizard of Oz" Tin Man in a couple more years.