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Hips, Hips, Hooray!
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox film
| name = Hips, Hips, Hooray!
| image = Hips, Hips, Hooray! FilmPoster.jpeg
| caption =
| director = Mark Sandrich
| writer = Bert Kalmar
Edward Kaufman
Harry Ruby
| starring = Bert Wheeler
Robert Woolsey
Ruth Etting
Thelma Todd
Dorothy Lee
| music = Roy Webb (Uncredited)
| cinematography = David Abel
| editing = Basil Wrangell
| distributor = RKO Radio Pictures
| released =
| runtime = 68 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $336,000Richard Jewel, 'RKO Film Grosses: 1931-1951', 'Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television', Vol 14 No 1, 1994 p56
| gross = $625,000
}}
'Hips, Hips, Hooray!' is a 1934 American Pre-Code slapstick comedy starring Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, Ruth Etting, Thelma Todd, and Dorothy Lee.'Variety' film review; February 27, 1934, page 17.'Harrison's Reports' film review; January 27, 1934, page 15. During its initial theatrical run, it was preceded by the two-color Technicolor short 'Not Tonight, Josephine', directed by Edward F. Cline.Advertisement. 'Florence (Alabama) Times Daily'. May 7. 1934. p 4. Web. June 23. 2010
Plot
Todd stars as Amelia Frisby, the owner of a beauty supply business. Andy Williams (Wheeler) and Dr. Bob Dudley (Woolsey) convince her to hire them as salesman to promote her new flavored lipstick. The film features Etting singing "Keep Romance Alive" and Bert Wheeler and Dorothy Lee singing "Keep on Doin' What You're Doin'" by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby.
Cast
* Bert Wheeler as Andy Williams
* Robert Woolsey as Dr. Bob Dudley
* Dorothy Lee as Daisy Maxwell
* Thelma Todd as Amelia Frisby
* Ruth Etting as Herself
* Phyllis Barry as Madame Irene
* Matt Briggs as Det. Epstein
* James P. Burtis as Detective Sweeney
* Spencer Charters as Clark
* George Meeker as Armand Beauchamp
* Doris McMahon as maid
* Thelma White as Blonde (uncredited)
Pre-Code era scenes
'Hips, Hips, Hooray!' showed scantily clad burlesque-style showgirls and female extras as typical of the Hollywood musicals in the Pre-Code era. Doris McMahon portrayed a nearly nude maid who wore only an apron.
Production
The song "Keep on Doin' What You're Doin'" was intended for the Marx Brothers' 1933 film 'Duck Soup' (Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx and Zeppo Marx in his final starring role).
A romantic subplot involving Ruth Etting was planned, but removed from the film. Despite being third-billed, Etting only has one scene.
Reception
The film made a profit of $8,000.
'The New York Times' gave 'Hips, Hips, Hooray!' an unenthusiastic review, stating that it featured "three reasonably hilarious gags and perhaps fifty more that depend on whether you are for or against the ex-vaudeville clowns to begin with." Alternately, the 'Prescott Evening Courier' described it as "smartly and enthusiastically insane...surpassing all [Wheeler and Woolsey's] previous efforts."'Prescott Evening Courier'. 2 July 1934. Page 2. Retrieved July 24. 2012 An Australian reviewer for 'The Age', felt that it "proved a fairly generously-endowed medley of eccentric dancing, buffoonery and burlesque" and that it provoked "much merriment" from its audience.'The Melbourne Age'. 23 July 1934. Page 13. Retrieved July 24. 2012
References
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