Something to Sing About

Plot synopsis:
"Terry Rooney" (James Cagney) is the stage name of Thaddeus McGillicuddy, a popular New York band leader and hoofer with a radio show, who gets an offer to go to Hollywood to make movies. He leaves behind his fiancee, the band's singer, Rita Wyatt (Evelyn Daw), and finds himself in the hands of studio boss B.O. Regan (Gene Lockhart), who sets a team of studio professionals to mold Rooney into a star. Regan, after struggling with another new talent who quickly developed an uncontrollable ego, also secretly insists that no one praise Rooney's work, on pain of being fired.
While shooting a bar fight for his first film, a stunt man who is supposed to throw a fake punch at Rooney hits him deliberately instead. Rooney retaliates, and a full-out fistfight breaks out. Disgusted with Hollywood, Rooney leaves to marry Wyatt, and for a honeymoon takes her on a tramp steamer for a cruise to the South Seas, ending up in San Francisco.
While they are away, the film is completed and premiered, and becomes a huge hit – but, to Regan's dismay, nobody in the studio knows where Rooney is. When he is finally spotted in San Francisco, Regan flies out immediately with a contract, a clause of which requires Rooney to remain single for its seven-year duration. Rooney and Wyatt agree to keep their relationship quiet, with Wyatt posing as Rooney's secretary.
Another film is begun, with Rooney acting alongside Stephanie Hajos (Mona Barrie), and to promote it, studio publicist Hank Meyers (William Frawley) plants news stories saying that Rooney and Hajos are love interests off-screen. The combined stress of having their marriage remain a secret, while Rooney has less and less time for her, eventually drives Wyatt back to New York. Hajos finds out that Rooney is not only not interested in her but is married; the story breaks to the papers, and Rooney returns to Wyatt and their band in New York with a front-page article declaring his relationship with Hojas a hoax.

Tags: satire

Review:
The plot of this film is fairly ordinary--bandleader/hoofer goes to Hollywood and becomes a star, studio wants to play up his credentials as a lover so they put the kibosh on announcing his marriage and cook up an on-set romance for the papers, the strain threatens his marriage.
The man had star quality positively oozing out of him, which had been evident from his earliest bit roles, in films like "A Handful of Clouds."This was Cagney's second and last film with Grand National studios, where he'd taken refuge during a contract dispute with Warner Brothers.
One scene in particular, where Cagney phones his fiancée back in New York while sitting in the dark in his Hollywood apartment, and listens to her sing a new song, is as moving and realistic as anything I've seen.Many scenes will evoke more famous moments from later films--Cagney dancing on piano keys, like Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia in "Big," or Cagney working on his pear-shaped tones, like Gene Kelly in "Singin' in the Rain." Cagney gives them all his unique brand of liveliness.
There is also an almost anachronistic recognition of the degradation Hollywood visited on minorities, in the person of Philip Ahn, who plays Cagney's manservant, Ito.Evelyn Daw, as Cagney's fiancée, was a discovery of the director, Schertzinger, and this was her first film.
She does well enough, though, and holds her own with William Frawley as Cagney's sympathetic press agent and Gene Lockhart as the studio boss.
The only real sour note is sounded by Mona Barrie, as the Hungarian star set up as Cagney's love interest by the studio press machine.
James Cagney got tired of film studios wanting him to make gangster films and typecasting him, so he went to Grand National Pictures and made this film with a Independent film maker.
In this picture Caqney plays the role as Terry Rooney a band leader who has a great show in Manhattan with a great singer, Rita Wyatt, (Evelyn Daw) and there is plenty of comedy and great dancing routines throughout the show.
Weary of railing against Warner Brothers for the studio's mishandling of him, James Cagney moves to small Grand National, which produces for the star this sprightly musical compote.
Cagney brings along all of his vigor and verve, and the little-known studio supplies a substantial budget for this tale of a Manhattan hoofer and bandleader, Terry Rooney (Cagney), and his sweetheart/wife (Evelyn Daw), who journey to Hollywood when Rooney is offered a film contract.
Cagney displays his customary class in his every scene with the musical production numbers being particularly effective, his dancing skill being a prominent element.
True soprano Evelyn Daw performs beautifully throughout, and the classically trained singer makes for a comely female lead as well, while William Frawley as a press agent, Mona Barrie as the studio diva, and Philip Ahn, who plays Rooney's houseboy, all provide enjoyable turns.
Right off the bat, I can think of Judy Garland and David Rose.Cagney proved what a great hoofer he was 5 years before his Oscar win in "Yankee Doodle Dandy."This wonderful Hollywood plot concerns itself with Cagney making it big in Hollywood and then running away and marrying his sweetheart, well played by Evelyn Daw. Too bad we never heard much from her.William Frawley, the future Fred Mertz, of I Love Lucy Fame, steals the picture as a publicity agent hell-bent on getting Cagney stature no matter what the cost.There is that accidental item that could cause a fatal rift between the married couple but Hollywood knew how to settle that so well in a final staging of a song and dance number..
SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT (Grand National, 1937), directed by Victor Schertzinger, stars movie tough guy James Cagney in his second screen musical.
As a band-leader, Cagney gets to do some fancy footwork, yet, much of the musical interludes go to newcomer Evelyn Daw. Resembling French actress Simone Simon (CAT PEOPLE,1942) and a diva singing voice of Jeanne Madden (STAGE STRUCK,1936), Daw's film career was as short-lived as Grand National Studios itself.
Slightly better than Cagney's Grand National debut, GREAT GUY (1936) due to its higher budget and reasonable plot, SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT also marked his second and farewell with the studio.Following the pattern of a Hollywood story, though not as famous as David O.
Selznick's A STAR IS BORN (1937), the plot revolves around Terry Rooney (James Cagney), a New York band-leader, with Rita "Canary" Wyatt (Evelyn Daw), the girl he loves, as his lead singer.
He leaves them behind when called to Hollywood to be tested for the upcoming motion picture, "Any Old Love." Arriving by train and met by Hank Myers (William Frawley), his publicity man, and Bennett O.
Regan (Gene Lockhart), president of Galor Studios, Terry finds himself going through the motions by being taught to speak correctly by the dialog coach (Marek Windheim) costume changes by the wardrobe man (Johnny Arthur); going through extremes on how to look by the make-up man (Dwight Frye); and the way how he should act by his director (Richard Tucker).
Their marriage soon falls apart when Terry's name becomes romantically linked with Russian actress Stephanie Hajos (Mona Barrie).Other members of the cast worth mentioning include Kathleen Lockhart as Emmy Robbins, a gossip columnist; James Newill, Candy Candido and Harry Barris as members of the band; William B.
This is something rare in movies from this era, bringing out into the open that Orientals converse just like everyone else.Although the story is routinely done, the songs, written by Victor Schertzinger, come off as unmemorable, though a couple of dance numbers help out during the dull stretches.
The song include: "Something to Sing About" (sung by Evelyn Daw during opening titles); "Here Comes the Bride" (danced by James Cagney); "Right or Wrong." (sung by Daw); "Any Old Love" (sung by Cagney); untitled dance number (performed by Cagney and male dancers); "Out of the Blue" (sung by Daw) and "Something to Sing About/"Out of the Blue" (reprise).
Aside from Cagney's dancing, the title song comes off best, and is used considerably in underscoring through much of the story, along with "Out of the Blue." "Right or Wrong" the film's weaker song, is vocalized by Daw on a long distance telephone call to Hollywood with Terry (Cagney) listening on the other end.When SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT resurfaced on commercial television in the 1970s, it played under another title, THE BAFFLING HOOFER, actually from a 1940s reissue print 15 minutes shorter than the original 93 minute length.
SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT has later been restored with much better copies presented on Turner Classic Movies, where it premiered August 2, 2005, and finally DVD.In closing, without the presence and charisma of James Cagney, SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT might have remained in some dark archive, along with other Grand National releases (1936-1939).
This movie may not be something to sing about, but actually something to consider since it's a chance to see Cagney in rare form, starring in a musical and an independent production outside his home base of Warners.
This little-known film is surprisingly entertaining, with lots of pre-"Singin' in the Rain" pokes at Hollywood's star machine, good songs, and a few lively dance numbers, especially the one onboard ship.
James Cagney is great as usual, and the supporting cast has some fine bits of their own, especially Gene Lockhart as arrogant but ineffectual studio head "B.O." Regan.
Something to Sing About was produced at Grand National Studios where James Cagney was working while under a contract dispute with the brothers Warner.
There are the usual complications of a conniving studio boss and a conniving press agent played respectively and well by Gene Lockhart and William Frawley.
His contract calls for a no- marriage clause, so Cagney and band girl singer lady Evelyn Daw marry in secret.
I think you can figure where this is going.The most disappointing thing about Something to Sing About is the lack of dance numbers for Cagney.
Band leader Jimmy Cagney goes to Hollywood to do a screen test and he becomes a star.
The film is filled with interesting behind the scenes intrigue and studio business and is in some ways reminiscent of a light-weight version of A STAR IS BORN and other "behind the scenes" movies.
In addition, how the studio head (Gene Lockhart) and publicity agent (William Frawley) schemed is pretty funny and diverting.
These two men plus Cagney did a lovely job despite having rather limp support from the rest of the cast.Unfortunately, despite the nice but familiar plot, the film was also chock full of tedious songs.
While Cagney's dance numbers weren't bad (what he lacked in grace he made up for in energy), his co-star (Evelyn Daw) sang in a style that was like an amalgam of opera and big band music--something that I disliked intensely.
It's the kind of musical with a Hollywood background that pokes fun at the film colony and its star-making machinery (a la SINGIN' IN THE RAIN), and gives Cagney a chance to shine as a hoofer.Cagney is Ted Rooney, a bandleader who bids farewell to his band and his fiancé (EVELYN LAW) to take temporary leave for a film when Hollywood beckons.
It never misses a chance to spoof the Hollywood star-making machinery and phoniness.When Rooney's picture is a smash hit, the studio can't find him.
You know it won't be long before Hollywood catches up with him in time for a happy ending.It's strictly fluff but Cagney gives a solid comedy/musical performance, coasting along nicely in his role despite some shaky support from Evelyn Law, a young lady who appears to be an inexperienced actress with a singing voice not suitable for the swing band music that Cagney indulges in.
She's a big drawback in a film that needs a good partner for Cagney in the love interest department.Summing up: Trivial, predictable musical comedy which should at least interest Cagney fans but it's easy to see why it failed to please at the box-office..
Cagney sings and swings in this enjoyable musical comedy about a bandleader who goes to Hollywood and winds up brawling with stuntmen.
It's lightweight fluff done on an obviously low budget, one of two movies James Cagney did for Poverty Row studio Grand National.
Some of the behind-the-scenes movie bits are fun but the songs are nothing to write home about and the musical numbers aren't as flashy or impressive as what was going on at the bigger studios at the time.
Okay we've been told all the stuff about Cagney arguing with WB and dancing over to Grand National, and we know this is the umpteenth remake of earlier Warner flicks.The movie is low-low budget, but it is fun to watch so youse guys watch it.
She was a moneymaker, so Louis B did as he was told).A couple other "Something To Sing About" pluses were Bill Frawley and Gene Lockhart as studio bigwigs with Lockhart as the biggest wig.Anyway, if you want so spend some pleasant time, well, this sometimes frantic movie, will be fun.
Dancing "Big Apple" band leader James Cagney (as Terry Rooney) heads for Hollywood to make his "Galore Pictures" debut.
After his down-to-earth attitude is mistaken for arrogance, Mr. Cagney leaves tinsel-town thinking he's a failed actor, and marries singing sweetheart Evelyn Daw (as Rita Wyatt).
"Something to Sing About" is a tuneful title; of the songs written by director Victor Schertzinger, "Right or Wrong" was the biggest minor hit, for swing singer Mildred Bailey.****** Something to Sing About (9/30/37) Victor Schertzinger ~ James Cagney, Evelyn Daw, William Frawley, Gene Lockhart.
Contrary to many reviews there is much to like in "Something To Sing About", a minor Cagney movie produced by Grand National Productions (Cagney was in the midst of a dispute with Warner Bros.
Cagney sings, dances and, counter to type, has some tender love scenes with Evelyn Daw, who is pretty and petite and has a lovely singing voice.Nutshell; song and dance man Cagney gets an offer from Hollywood.
Popular New York band leader Terry Rooney (Cagney) is offered a lucrative film contract out in Hollywood.
James Cagney wanted to do more than play gangsters, and he loved dancing.
Warner Brothers was having none of it so Cagney successfully got out of his contract and signed to do two films with Grand National Pictures.
The movie's a great look at a singing, dancing Jimmy Cagney.
Terry Rooney (Cagney) is a Broadway nightclub song and dance man.
"B.O." Regan (Gene Lockhart), and the studio's press head, Hank Meyers (William Frawley), convince Terry to sign a seven-year contract.
The best things about this movie are Cagney, his song and dance numbers and the fairly gentle but pointed pokes at Hollywood movie making.
I think it's a very enjoyable late 30s film, really hampered only by the sometimes painful singing of Evelyn Daw. I didn't know Cagney had made a musical this early in his career, five years before "Yankee Doodle Dandy." In fact this one came out before "Angels with Dirty Faces" so I think it's fair to say he wasn't a very big star yet and his tough guy persona hadn't been cemented yet.
He looks great doing his tap dance numbers early in the film.
It's a shame they didn't have him do more dancing as the film progressed instead of concentrating quite so much on the situational comedy.Cagney plays a "hoofer" who goes by the stage name of Terry Rooney.
By then he's married his sweetheart Rita (Daw) and the studio wants to keep the marriage a secret.I've never really heard of songwriter/director Victor Shertzinger; looking at his credits I see he wrote the famous song "I Remember You" from the great Alan Ladd/Veronica Lake film "The Glass Key" and was kind of a big shot at Paramount in the 30s.
More Cagney dancing and less Daw singing would have made this a more satisfying musical film.
Every James Cagney fan should see this movie because it's a bit like seeing what his career might have been like if he had stayed more in the musical comedy realm.
This works fine and if they had expanded this part of the film by adding one or two more dance numbers for Cagney, it would have been a comedy classic.
Unfortunately, the movie was also trying to make a star out of newcomer Evelyn Daw. So the last half hour has a plot where Cagney is married to Daw, but being a new star, has to hide the fact from the public.
It's song and dance time, which was director Victor Schertzinger's forte.In one of Cagney's dance sequences, there is stepping on a keyboard which reminds me of the Penny Marshall directed toy department scene in "Big." Some excellent performances here.
IN FULFILLING HIS obligations with small Hollywood Studio, Mr. James Cagney opted for a return to his ancestral, musical roots.
Portraying a now successful Band Leader & Radio personality, Terry Rooney (nee Thadeus McGillicuddy).THE OPENING SCENE toys with the audience by having others dub in both falsetto and a deep, gruff voices done over Cagney's lip-singing the film's title song, "Something To Sing About." The gag is soon revealed to be just what it is; as this is announced to be Terry's last radio program.
We follow the band leader through Studio Front Offices, Acting Lessons, Dancing, Wardrobe Department and Make up.ALL OF THIS business is interspersed with pleasant, but forgettable musical numbers.AS WITH SO many other small pictures, SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT boasts of a great cast membership.
With Evelyn Daw as the romantic interest, they were supported by such capable hands as: William Frawley, Gene Lockart, Phillip Ahn, Dwight Frye* and Johnny Arthur.** IF YOU LOOK around the local video or chain store, you will find a highly inexpensive VHS or DVD copy of this movie, which along with Mr. Cagney's other Grand National production, GREAT GUY both long in Public Domain.AS SMALL AND insignificant as this movie is, it proved to be a powerhouse of sorts at the box office; being the one to finally sink the studio, forcing Grand National to close its doors forever.NOTE * Yes, yes!
He could do it all - act, sing and dance, and with virtually limitless energy as demonstrated by that high kicking, spirited number he performed in this film.
It was at that point that Terry found out he was about to head out to Hollywood to make the jump from band leader and hoofer to the big screen.
Which included getting married to girlfriend Rita Wyatt (Evelyn Daw), much to the consternation of Galor Studio boss Regan (Gene Lockhart) and talent agent Hank Meyers (William Frawley).
Warner whom Cagney was then suing for breach of a verbal agreement which Warner denied ever having made despite the testimony to the contrary of several witnesses), William Frawley as the typical publicity flack, Philip Ahn in a nice part in which he is given the opportunity to use his distinctive voice to great advantage, Richard Tucker as the dapper, quietly spoken, gentlemanly director (William Keighley?), and Eddie Kane as the theater manager who rescues Cagney from his too-adoring fans.Heroine Evelyn Daw gives a good account of herself too, both musically and dramatically, and more than holds her own in the looks department with Mona Barrie, but this seems to be her only film.Although Cagney doesn't do any singing in this one, it's good to see him don dancing shoes for two or three numbers.
On paper - it was made by Grand National, a Poverty Row outfit, the female lead made only two movies before calling it a day - this doesn't have too much going for it, unless you throw in Jimmy Cagney as leading man and hyphenate Victor Schertzinger as director/composer.
Cagney is reasonably effective as a band-leader in the East who is tapped by Hollywood and goes to the coast to make a movie.