The Riverside Rest Revue of 2011, Part III

Yep folks, it's time for the third round of music, mayhem, and Two-Strip Technicolor from the era when movies began to talk, 1929 to 1934! And we'll begin with Bebe Daniels and Bing Crosby at one heck of a party. Let's see what happens "When the Folks High Up Do the Mean Low-Down," an Irving Berlin number from United Artists' 1931 comedy Reaching for the Moon.

When the Folks High Up Do the Mean Low Down

We head to shore for our next number...and what do we see but June Clyde and a line of bathing beauties enticing us to "Come Into the Water," from RKO's Tanned Legs.

Come Into the Water

We move out to the docks for our next number. Seems like the fleet's in...and "It Girl" Clara Bow is going to have her pick. Look for future Paramount leading man Fredric March among the boys in uniform as Clara proclaims "I'm True to the Navy Now" from Paramount On Parade.


I'm True to the Navy Now

Marie Dressler can't be anything BUT the queen...and this number helped her become the undisputed royalty of the MGM lot in the early 30s. From Hollywood Revue of 1929.

I'm the Queen

Our first Technicolor number is a real gem. Jeanette Loff and Stanley Smith perform this sweet, dainty wedding ensemble, "My Bridal Veil," from Universal's King of Jazz.

My Bridal Veil

June Clyde and Hugh Trevor are adorable in this classic Kalmar/Ruby ballad from RKO's The Cuckoos.

All Alone Monday

Hooray for Captain Spaulding...and hooray for the Marx Brothers in one of their signature numbers, from Paramount's Animal Crackers.

Hooray For Captain Spaulding

Dorothy McNulty (later Penny Singleton of Blondie fame) leads this nutty dance ensemble from MGM's 1930 version of Good News. Let's all learn to do "The Varsity Drag!"


The Varsity Drag

Ethel Waters makes her film debut singing one of my favorite ballads from this era, the wonderful "Am I Blue?" from Warners' On With the Show!. The Four Emperors of Harmony join her for the second half.

Am I Blue?

And now, ladies and gentlemen, a real Ziegfeld-style showgirl parade, showcasing the latest fashions of 1929...if Lawrence Gray can get the chorus line in the right order! Um, are we ready? Good. Here's a Two-Strip Technicolor fashion show from MGM's It's a Great Life.

Technicolor Fashion Parade

Whoops! Sorry about that, folks. While we sort out the difficulties with he chorus, here's Bert Wheeler and Bob Woosley, showing far more interest in their friendship than their ladies Dorothy Lee and Helen Kaiser, in a reprise of "Sweetheart, We Need Each Other," from RKO's Rio Rita.

Sweetheart, We Need Each Other Reprise

Could someone fish those four out of the studio tank? We'll let them dry off while Marilyn Miller does a nifty tap dance in this scene from Warners' Sunny.

Tap Dance

From an American stage diva we move to one of England's most famous. Gertrude Lawrence performs Cole Porter's "They All Fall In Love," from the rare Paramount tuner The Battle of Paris.


They All Fall In Love

Our cultural number of the evening is George Gershwin's New York Rhapsody (aka "Second Rhapsody"), making the perfect background for Scottish immigrant Janet Gaynor's haunting escape across Manhattan in the 1931 Fox film Delicious.

New York Rhapsody

We conclude our show with another wedding, Broadway operetta-style. John Boles and Bebe Daniels sing "You're Always In My Arms" as the chorus prepares for their marriage in the finale of RKO's Rio Rita.

You're Always In My Arms/Rio Rita Finale

Look for more in the coming weeks!