We're Not Dressing

Plot synopsis:
Spoiled socialite Doris Worthington (Lombard) is sailing the Pacific with her friend Edith (Merman) and her Uncle Hubert (Errol), while being courted by Prince Michael (Milland) and Prince Alexander (Henry). She is bored, however, and finds entertainment in verbal sparring with one of the sailors, Stephen Jones (Crosby). During one of their battles, Doris slaps Stephen, who retaliates by kissing her and gets fired. In a drunken accident, Uncle Hubert runs the yacht onto a reef in the fog. Stephen rescues the unconscious Doris as the others flee the capsized ship, and everyone makes it to the tropical island although the princes claim credit for Doris’s rescue. Unfortunately, the only person with any survival skills is Stephen, and the socialites are quick to demand that he gather food and build shelter. Stephen attempts to divide up the work but the haughty passengers snub his leadership so he fends for himself. The smells from Stephen’s dinner of mussels and coconuts soon entice the hungry passengers to gather their own food; all except Doris, who tricks Stephen to get his food and gets slapped in turn. The group is forced to cooperate, although Doris remains indignant and infuriated.
Doris discovers that there are other people on the island when she falls prey to a lion trap in the jungle: zany Gracie (Allen) and scientific husband George (Burns) live on the other side of the not-so-deserted isle. She refuses their offer to stay in favor of getting even with Stephen. Doris arranges for some tools and clothes to float past Stephen, who is elated at his "discovery" and quickly builds a house. The couple admit their love that evening but feel mismatched.
Two rescue boats arrive. In the hubbub, Stephen finds out that the clothes and tools came from Doris and is angry at being the butt of the joke. Stephen takes a different boat than Doris. As Doris watches the princes resume their womanizing ways on board ship, she realizes she misses Stephen. She changes ships to join him, for better or for worse.

Tags: comedy

Review:
You add some well-known actors like George Burns and Gracie Allen, Leon Errol, and a twenty-something Ethel Merman for some comic relief.
Simple plot, Bing's a sailor on the Lombard yacht and he, Lombard, her uncle Leon Errol, her friend Ethel Merman and two princes/gigolos, Ray Milland and Jay Henry are shipwrecked after a drunken Leon Errol runs the yacht up on a reef.
Oh, and also surviving is Lombard's pet bear, a creature named Droopy.Droopy comes pretty close to stealing the picture, especially after Leon Errol persuades Crosby to put roller-skates on him while they're still on the ship.
He also has another trick, he won't hear any other song but Goodnight, Lovely Little Lady one of the songs written for this film by Mack Gordon and Harry Revel.Gordon and Revel's best known numbers from this are May I and Love Thy Neighbor which sold a few platters for Bing back in 1934.
Paramount saved it and put it intact into their Big Broadcast of 1936 the following year.At the time We're Not Dressing was shooting, Carole Lombard was romantically involved with Bing Crosby's singing rival crooner Russ Columbo.
Columbo later died that year of a gunshot wound from an antique dueling pistol, a case that a lot of people felt was never satisfactorily solved.So with Crosby, Lombard, Burns and Allen, Ethel Merman, Leon Errol just the sound of that casts spells some wacky wonderful fun..
Being a Bing Crosby vehicle (albeit featured on Universal’s Carole Lombard set), there’s a plethora of dated romantic songs – and since a young (not to say slim) Ethel Merman appears in support, she chimes in as well…and so does comic Leon Errol!
Also in the cast are another comic couple – George Burns (who really achieved stardom after an Oscar-winning turn some 40 years later!) and real-life spouse Gracie Allen – and a young (though somewhat stiff) Ray Milland as one of two aristocratic parasites hoping to win Lombard’s hand.
However, she’s got her eyes on crooning sailor Crosby – but, of course, their relationship runs far from smoothly!Starting off on Lombard’s yacht, the group are shipwrecked on a tropical island (thanks to a tipsy Errol sabotaging the boat’s commands) – where explorers Burns and Allen(!) are carrying out some kind of research.
Actually, the two parties rarely interact: in fact, very little happens on the island itself – other than that the feckless idle rich are taught a moral lesson by the manly and resourceful Crosby (anticipating Lombard’s own MY MAN GODFREY [1936] in this respect).It’s refreshing to find Lombard in a non-wacky role, but her performance is just as delightful as ever; equally notable are the amusing contribution of Errol (Lombard’s uncle but who’s sympathetic to commoner Crosby) and the various antics of the harebrained Allen (which includes her devising an unlikely and complicated method to trap wild animals).
Even so, an amiable bear named Droopy (Lombard’s pet!) steals everybody’s thunder – especially in the way it cuddles up to Crosby when singing a particular tune, and a hilarious scene in which the animal runs riot on the deck of the yacht after Errol fits it with skating shoes!
WE'RE NOT DRESSING (Paramount, 1934), directed by Norman Taurog, may sound like a pre-code movie set at a nudist colony, but in spite of this offbeat title, it's actually a tuneful, in fact, very tuneful musical-comedy set on a South Pacific island.
Heading the cast is Bing Crosby, taking a new direction in his fourth leading role for Paramount in a revamped story to James M.
Barrie's novel, "The Admirable Crichton."The story opens on a yacht christianed "Doris" where Prince Alexander (Jay Henry) and Prince Michael (Ray Milland), a couple of phonies out to nab rich women, accompany the wealthy yacht owner named Doris Worthington (Carole Lombard) on a cruise in the South Pacific.
Doris is loved by Alexander and Michael, but while faced with a dilemma as to which one she should marry, she also has her eye on a deck hand sailor named Steve Jones (Bing Crosby).
On the other side of the island are George and Gracie Martin (George Burns and Gracie Allen), a couple of botanists working on experiments, adding more to the confusion.Unlike the easy-going character he was to play on film through much of his career, WE'RE NOT DRESSING places Crosby on the tough side, especially on the island where he takes control over the castaways, ready to fight the two princes, and keeping the temperamental Doris under control by dunking her head in the ocean water or giving her a facial slap in return for a kiss.A fine selection of tunes by Harry Revel and Mack Gordon include: "It's a Lie, It's a Lie!" (sung by sailors); "A Sailor Must Be True to Any One Girl," (sung by Bing Crosby); "It's a Lie, It's a Lie!" "It's a New Spanish Custom" (sung by Ethel Merman); "I Positively Refuse to Sing" (with a brief insert of "Stormy Weather"); "May I?" "She Reminds Me of You," "Goodnight, Lovely Little Lady," "Love Thy Neighbor," "May I?" "Once in a Blue Moon" (all sung by Crosby); "It's the Aninal in Me" (sung briefly by Merman); and "Goodnight, Lovely Little Lady" (sung by Crosby).
According to Bob Dorian, former host of American Movie Classics, in one of its several broadcasts in 1992, commented on the cut number, "It's the Animal in Me," sung by Ethel Merman, and inserted to another musical, THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1936 (1935) starring Jack Oakie.
In spite of that tune taken out of WE'RE NOT fadeout.WE'RE NOT DRESSING can be categorized as the most tuneful of the Bing Crosby musicals, consisting as many as six songs heard before reaching the twenty minute mark.
Reminiscent to early sound musicals of the 1929-30 period, the film consists of a leading couple (Crosby and Lombard) supported by a secondary comical couple (Merman and Errol) taking part in songs while going into their comedic dance.
As an added attraction, there's the comedy team of the serious-minded Burns and daffy Allen as another secondary couple around to enlighten things with their now familiar comic exchanges having no bearing with the story.
In spite of this minor flaws, any film consisting of a live crooning and roller skating around the deck, is one crazy movie.Of the Crosby musicals of the early 1930s, WE'RE NOT DRESSING ranks one of the longer survivors on commercial television in the 1970s before shifting over to cable stations as American Movie Classics (1991-92), the Disney Channel (1990s) and Turner Classic Movies where it premiered August 17, 2006 during its all day tribute to Carole Lombard.
One of my favorite scenes is when Bing Crosby is singing "May I" to Carole Lomabard.
A young and quite pretty Ethel Merman and an older character actor named Leon Errol provide a good bit of the comedy.
I thought the best song was Crosby's 'Love thy Neighbor.' I think the film is a must for Lombard fans, Burns and Allen fans and fans of 30's screwball comedies.
The whole "pet bear" routine is quite weird, and adds nothing to the plot, as thin as it is.Granted, this is an early sound film, but when you consider some of the excellent RKO musicals of the period, with Astaire, this Paramount production leaves much to be desired.I've never been a Burns & Allen fan, so that whole routine is lost on me.
It is interesting to see Ray Milland in an early role.Certainly, the film is worth a look for its historical significance in studio history, but I cannot recommend it as an entertaining movie.
This 30's Paramount film starts out on board the "Doris", luxury yacht belonging to heiress Doris Worthington (Carole Lombard).
Along for the ride is her uncle Hubert (Leon Errol), Ray Milland and Jay Henry as two princes who stick together like glue and both want to marry Doris, and friend Edith (Ethel Merman) who says she'll take the prince Doris turns down.
Bing Crosby plays singing sailor Stephen Jones who Doris has named caretaker of her pet bear.
Now the tides of inequality are turned and it's Stephen with his knowledge of survival skills - and common sense skills like cooking - that give him the upper hand over his five aristocratic companions when they all find themselves shipwrecked on a deserted island.This is when Bing was in the light and breezy musical comedy part of his film career, and the public ate this amusing escapist stuff up.
Besides Bing's singing, Carole Lombard is beginning to hit her stride as a great comedienne, Ethel Merman sings a little but is mainly part of the comedy, and a very young Ray Milland manages to get upstaged by a wrestling bear.So that the "stranded on a desert island" theme doesn't get tired, George Burns and Gracie Allen are on the island too playing two naturalists in search of wild beasts that can be studied with an amusing bit where Gracie shows George the wild animal trap she's invented.Recommended as great light musical comedy fare from the 30's that, although it is technically precode, could have easily gotten past the censors had it been released even a year later..
Ms. Lombard plays mostly straight to Bing Crosby, a bear who may be real or not depending on certain scenes, Ethel Merman, Leon Errol, a young Ray Milland, and George Burns & Gracie Allen.
Bing Crosby plays a sailor aboard the yacht of Doris Worthington, a wealthy heiress played by the legendary Carole Lombard.
The best is yet to come when they are stranded on an uninhabited island with George Burns and Gracie Allen.
Star Bing Crosby (who plays a sailor) sings a lot.
Comics George Burns, Gracie Allen, Ethel Merman and Leon Errol get to do some slightly funny stuff.
The high point of the film is a great pre-code bit where sexy Carole Lombard changes behind a big rock.
Carole Lombard is being pursued by Ray Milland and Jay Henry, but sailor Bing Crosby catches her eye-and ear.
As it that isn't lofty and silly enough, Bing Crosby's biggest fan is a bear cub who throws a fit unless she's getting serenaded by a particular song.
I hadn't seen this strange hodgepodge of a film for about 40 years and finally caught up with it again on DVD.All of the ingredients and defects that irritated me the first time around were just as irritating the second - the pet bear (a "joke" that long outstays its welcome) Leon Errol's drunk act and the tedious Burns and Allen shtick that is frequently dropped into the film without any relationship to the story - while the good parts still pleased me, namely Carole Lombard's winsome beauty and charm, and the lovely songs by Gordoon and Revel, which are not always presented to their best advantage but are very catchy nonetheless.However, one thing I had not noticed 40 years ago on first viewing but which is worthy of mention, is that Mr Crosby sings "live" on set for most of the film and the orchestra is clearly on the soundstage, accompanying him and also most of the action.This must have been one of the very last musical films to be shot in this way, without playback and lip-synchronisation (only perfected in 1933), which would soon become the industry norm.So, this is a curio for that reason and also interesting in that we can more accurately assess Crosby's vocal skills and his way of performing and phrasing a song at this stage of his career - rather well, on this evidence.Poor Ethel Merman is totally wasted but I read elsewhere here that her big number was cut and re-used in the later BIG BROADCAST of 1936.
Her best film was yet to come - Alexander's RAGTIME BAND, where she lights up the screen every time she comes on to belt out another Irving Berlin hit.Back to this film - its one saving virtue is its length - a crisp 74 minutes, which means that no matter how tiresome the comedy becomes (and it does, believe me), it isn't too long to wait before Bing sings yet another lovely song.
'We're Not Dressing' had a lot going for it, the beautiful tones of Bing Crosby's voice, Ethel Merman's big brassy one, Carole Lombard who is pretty underrated today and died tragically far too early and Gracie Allen and George Burns have delighted in other films they were in.This may not be one of the best to come out of either of these talents but as a screwball comedy and as a musical it's thoroughly enjoyable and mostly works very well.
Bing Crosby is also occasionally a little stiff.On the other hand, 'We're Not Dressing' does look handsome and is charmingly photographed, not one of the most visually beautiful film musicals even but hardly a cheap-looking one either.
Lombard delights and charms effortlessly every time she appears, while Merman sends up a riotous storm in "A New Spanish Custom" and has interplay with Leon Errol coming close to the uproarious.Burns and particularly Allen are also scene-stealers.
Bing Crosby was 30 years old, and Carole Lombard was 25 when this film came out.
In this film, Crosby sings 10 songs that have a range of tempos and beats - and very good lyrics.
I like the acting and directing, and Crosby's nuances in this film where the camera catches him frequently looking out of the side of his eye at Lombard.
For instance, the pet bear, and the appearance of George Burns and Gracie Allen for some funny exchanges.
The musical numbers are all very good, and I like the acting and interplay between Crosby's and Lombard's characters.
I don't know where the title comes from, but "We're Not Dressing" is a fun and entertaining movie.In one place, Doris and Stephen refer to "The Admirable Crichton." That would have been the 1902 play by J.
Do Bing Crosby's mellow voice and Carole Lombard's terrific looks add up to a movie?
Throw in the popular comedy team of Burns and Allen, plus Leon Errol and Ethel Merman for extra laughs, not to mention a very young Ray Milland, badly miscast as a snooty prince.
Sounds like the type of picture, I would enjoy, but in fact I liked the "The End" sign about as well as any scene in We're Not Dressing.Bing croons about as well as ever, and Carole looks as good in her languid way as ever.
The only thing that could have saved it would have been bringing in Bob Hope as Bing's rival for the affections of the beautiful Ms. Lombard -- but then that partnership was way down the Road (pun intended).The genuinely funny banter between Leon Errol and Ethel Merman almost saves the picture.
Nor did anything else so satisfying happen in this trifle of a movie.Fast-forward the DVD between the musical numbers, and you may get an entertaining twenty minutes out of We're Not Dressing..
One vote for Carole Lombard, one vote for Ethel Merman and one vote for the art-deco yacht.
Too much of Bing singing, too much Burns and Allen, and definitely not enough of Carole Lombard, who was much better than this light, fluffy little romp of a film.
It starts off well enough, with an adorable Bing Crosby serenading a more-than-lovely Carole Lombard, lowly deck hand and refined socialite.
After an awkward moment with a bear (that has no other standing in the plot other than to create more situations for Bing to sing), Lombard scolds the sailor by slapping him.
We all know it must end in love, and it does; but only after a few scuffles and a couple more numbers sung.As we go through out the picture, Crosby sings his chords out; arguably the best of which being "May I," sung (on deck) to Lombard as she tries to pretend she is not interested in the young sailor.
Still, I don't know which is more annoying, the bear or the man dressed up as a bear; continuously throwing Bing on deck any time he doesn't sing another one of this movies memorable tunes, "Lovely Little Lady." Wait, I'll up it once more...
It may not be for everyone, but fans of Bing Crosby and early Paramount films will find themselves with appetites aptly satisfied..
"We're Not Dressing" has such a variety of stars that chances are each viewer will find something (or someone) to like: there's Bing Crosby for the ballads, Carole Lombard for the romantic comedy, Ethel Merman & Leon Errol for the crazy comedy, George Burns & Gracie Allen for the REALLY crazy comedy, and even a young Ray Milland for the trivia value!
Personally I found the number of songs from the undeniably gifted Crosby excessive, and the "love story" between him and Lombard less than endearing.
But Merman and Errol's "A new Spanish custom" is joyful, and Gracie Allen earns at least a couple of hearty laughs (her closing scene might be her best).
The film begins aboard a yacht with Bing Crosby as a crooning sailor, a dancing and rollerskating bear, Leon Erol on hand for comic relief, a young Ethel Merman, two money-hungry suitors (one of which is a young and really bland Ray Milland) and a spoiled rich lady (Lombard).
Two years before disguising himself as a sailor in the movie version of Cole Porter's "Anything Goes", Bing Crosby played a sailor employed by Carole Lombard on her yacht who yearns to tame the shrew as much as she yearns to be tamed by him.
Ethel Merman may not have ended up on a deserted island as Reno Sweeney, but she does here, stealing the musical sequences with a comical dance number called "It's an Old Spanish Custom", sung to her dipsomaniac fiancée, the much older Leon Errol.The best gags come from Burns and Allen as a scientist and his dimwit wife exploring the island for flora and fauna.