A zany musical about an amateur musician in search of work who impersonates a big band leader.A zany musical about an amateur musician in search of work who impersonates a big band leader.A zany musical about an amateur musician in search of work who impersonates a big band leader.
Edward J. Nugent
- Sport
- (as Eddie Nugent)
William A. Boardway
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
Symona Boniface
- Musicale Guest
- (uncredited)
Patti Brill
- Orphan
- (uncredited)
Dorothy Gray
- Orphan
- (uncredited)
Sherry Hall
- NBC Radio Announcer
- (uncredited)
Gladden James
- Stevens - Reporter
- (uncredited)
Norman Peck
- Swiftie
- (uncredited)
Dorothy Vernon
- Mrs. Whitehall's Maid
- (uncredited)
Malcolm Waite
- Ted Grant
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaRudy Vallee's movie debut.
- Quotes
Opening Title Card: Every small town has its small town band with big town ideas.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Hollywood the Golden Years: The RKO Story: Birth of a Titan (1987)
- SoundtracksI Love You, Believe Me, I Love You
(1929) (uncredited)
Music by Rubey Cowan and Phil Boutelje
Lyrics by Philip Bartholomae
Played by The Connecticut Yankees
Sung by Rudy Vallee
Featured review
Marie Dressler Steals the Show
The Vagabond Lover was an early all-talkie film (1929) that starred the current singing rage, Rudy Vallee. He plays the leader of a small-town band determined to make the big time. The band travels to Long Island to crash the home of noted band leader, Ted Grant. Of course, snoopy society matron (Marie Dressler) mistakes them for the all-star band and invites them to play at her musicale. In her rivalry with fellow matron (Nella Walker), Dressler will not stop at anything to "one up" her. The band plays well, and Vallee instantly falls for Dressler's niece, Sally Blane. OK plot, but the main setback is Vallee: he's a lousy actor, his singing seems thin, and he has a strong lisp. But Dressler makes up for it, stealing the film from the novice actor. By today's standards, she overacts, but she's so funny and lively, it's hard to find fault. Blane is pretty but no great actress. Malcolm Waite plays the real Ted Grant, Charles Sellon is the local cop, Edward Nugent and Danny O'Shea are band members, and Gladden James, once a silent-screen star (The Social Secretary with Norma Talmadge in 1916) plays one of the reporters.
The title song is sung over the opening credits. "I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now," "I Love You, Believe Me, I Love You," "Georgie Porgie," "If You Were the Only Girl in the World, and I Were the Only Boy," "A Little Kiss Each Morning, A Little Kiss Each Night," "Sweetheart, We Need Each Other," and "I'll Be Reminded of You" are the songs. A couple are well remembered. "Sweetheart, We Need Each Other" was also a featured song in 1929's smash hit, Rio Rita, sung by Bert Wheeler and Dorothy Lee (and in a better rendition).
This is Dressler's talkie debut in a feature. The same year, she starred with Polly Moran in a talkie short, Dangerous Females and appeared in the all-star Hollywood Revue of 1929. After having been a star on early films (Tillie's Punctured Romance, etc.) Dressler was on the comeback trail in 1928 (The Patsy with Marion Davies). Talkies cemented her return to stardom, and Dressler would be a top box office star within a year. Everything she appeared in was a hit (Anna Christie, Let Us Be Gay, etc.) and she resumed top billing in star roles, winning an Oscar for Min and Bill.
Blane would have a so-so career, eclipsed by her sister, Loretta Young. Vallee would re-surface in the 40s in comedies like The Palm Beach Story and The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer. Handsome Edward Nugent would linger for another decade but never made much of a splash. And Nella Walker would have a long career playing society ladies.
This film is certainly worth watching but is a disappointment. Vallee does NOT use his famed megaphone (it might have helped), nor does he sing his hit version on "The Stein Song" (from the University of Maine). Vallee attended both the University of Maine and Yale.
The title song is sung over the opening credits. "I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now," "I Love You, Believe Me, I Love You," "Georgie Porgie," "If You Were the Only Girl in the World, and I Were the Only Boy," "A Little Kiss Each Morning, A Little Kiss Each Night," "Sweetheart, We Need Each Other," and "I'll Be Reminded of You" are the songs. A couple are well remembered. "Sweetheart, We Need Each Other" was also a featured song in 1929's smash hit, Rio Rita, sung by Bert Wheeler and Dorothy Lee (and in a better rendition).
This is Dressler's talkie debut in a feature. The same year, she starred with Polly Moran in a talkie short, Dangerous Females and appeared in the all-star Hollywood Revue of 1929. After having been a star on early films (Tillie's Punctured Romance, etc.) Dressler was on the comeback trail in 1928 (The Patsy with Marion Davies). Talkies cemented her return to stardom, and Dressler would be a top box office star within a year. Everything she appeared in was a hit (Anna Christie, Let Us Be Gay, etc.) and she resumed top billing in star roles, winning an Oscar for Min and Bill.
Blane would have a so-so career, eclipsed by her sister, Loretta Young. Vallee would re-surface in the 40s in comedies like The Palm Beach Story and The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer. Handsome Edward Nugent would linger for another decade but never made much of a splash. And Nella Walker would have a long career playing society ladies.
This film is certainly worth watching but is a disappointment. Vallee does NOT use his famed megaphone (it might have helped), nor does he sing his hit version on "The Stein Song" (from the University of Maine). Vallee attended both the University of Maine and Yale.
helpful•231
- drednm
- Jul 8, 2005
Details
- Runtime1 hour 5 minutes
- Color
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