Too Much Harmony

Too Much Harmony
Directed by A. Edward Sutherland
Produced by William LeBaron
Written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Starring Bing Crosby
Jack Oakie
Richard "Skeets" Gallagher
Harry Green
Judith Allen
Music by Heinz Roemheld
Cinematography Theodor Sparkuhl
Edited by Richard C. Currier
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release dates
  • September 23, 1933 (1933-09-23)
Running time
 76 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Too Much Harmony (1933) is a black and white American Pre-Code musical film directed by A. Edward Sutherland and released by Paramount Pictures.

Plot

A backstage musical about a Broadway star, Eddie Bronson, who is stranded in Ohio where he discovers a small-time variety act, Dixon and Day and their assistant Ruth. Bronson puts them in a Broadway show and after many problems and romantic confusion, the show is a huge success.

Reception

The New York Times was guarded in its reaction. "The film bears the title of Too Much Harmony and those who are partial to crooning will find plenty of it in this production...Even persons who delight in Mr. Crosby’s peculiar ballads may be somewhat disappointed in his attempts to register admiration and affection, for, although he is one of the most popular singers in his line, his acting is often apt to make one uneasy."[1] Variety's review was mixed: "Pretty weak on the story end, but there’s enough incidental matter to carry this one through. It’s a musical with accent on the music and the song and cast should bring it pleasant returns all over… Between Bing Crosby and Jack Oakie, the literary deficiencies are modified. Crosby for the singing and Oakie for the comedy; a strong combo. . . At least one of the several songs should make the best-seller grade in the competent hands of Crosby. His singing ability he always had, but Crosby now has also found himself in the trouping department. It makes him a cinch."[2] The Los Angeles Evening Herald Express liked Crosby's singing, saying "In this, as in other films, the Crosby voice records as if microphones were invented for it. Bing has definite personality besides, and he grows steadily more at ease in his acting."[3]

Cast

Soundtrack

Written by Arthur Johnston and Sam Coslow
Sung by Kitty Kelly (dubbed by Barbara Van Brunt)[4]
Written by Arthur Johnston and Sam Coslow[5][6][7]
Sung by Judith Allen; reprised by Bing Crosby
Written by Arthur Johnston and Sam Coslow
Sung by Jack Oakie and Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher
Written by Arthur Johnston and Sam Coslow
Sung by Bing Crosby
Written by Arthur Johnston and Sam Coslow
Sung by Bing Crosby and chorus
Written by Arthur Johnston and Sam Coslow
Sung and danced by Grace Bradley
Written by Arthur Johnston and Sam Coslow
Sung by Jack oakie and Richard "Skeets" Gallagher
Written by Arthur Johnston and Sam Coslow
Sung by Bing Crosby

Crosby recorded the songs for Brunswick Records[8] and "Thanks" and "The Day You Came Along" reached the charts of the day peaking at No. 2 and No. 3 respectively.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "The New York Times". The New York Times. September 23, 1933.
  2. ↑ "Variety". Variety. September 26, 1933.
  3. ↑ "Los Angeles Evening Herald Express". Los Angeles Evening Herald Express. September 29, 1933.
  4. ↑ Reynolds, Fred (1986). Road to Hollywood. John Joyce. p. 56.
  5. ↑ Popular Music - Volume 4 - Page 109 "Thanks Words and music by Arthur Johnston and Sam Coslow. Famous Music Corp. Introduced by Judith Allen and Bing Crosby in Too Much Harmony (film)."
  6. ↑ Lenny Kaye You call it madness: the sensuous song of the croon 2004- Page 334 "The Broadcast formula was turned sideways for Too Much Harmony (songwriters Coslow and Johnston even reprised their "Please" with "Thanks"), a behind-the-curtain musical that cast him as a theatrical singer caught between Judith Allen and Lilyan Tashman, in one of her ..."
  7. ↑ Cocktails for two: the many lives of giant songwriter Sam Coslow 1977 Page 136 "The score contained "Thanks," "The Day You Came Along"... Too Much Harmony, which was directed by Eddie Sutherland, landed Bing Crosby solidly in the Top Ten box-office attractions of 1933 in the national poll of theater operators."
  8. ↑ "A Bing Crosby Discography". A Bing Crosby Discography. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  9. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 104. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.

External links


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