Roman Scandals
Roman Scandals | |
---|---|
Directed by | Frank Tuttle |
Produced by | Samuel Goldwyn |
Written by |
William Anthony McGuire based on the story by George Kaufman |
Starring | Eddie Cantor |
Music by | Alfred Newman |
Cinematography |
Ray June Gregg Toland |
Edited by | Stuart Heiser |
Production company | |
Distributed by | United Artists |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | US$1,000,000 (est.) |
Box office | $2,443,000[1] |
Roman Scandals is a 1933 American black-and-white pre-Code musical film starring Eddie Cantor, Ruth Etting, Gloria Stuart, Edward Arnold and David Manners. It was directed by Frank Tuttle. The film features a number of intricate production numbers choreographed by Busby Berkeley. The song "Keep Young and Beautiful" is from this film. In addition to the starring actors in the picture, the elaborate dance numbers are performed by the "Goldwyn Girls" (who in this film include future stars such as Lucille Ball, Paulette Goddard and Barbara Pepper). The title of the film is a pun on Roman sandals.
Plot summary
When kind-hearted delivery boy and self-acclaimed authority on ancient Rome Eddie (Eddie Cantor) is thrown out of his home-town of West Rome, Oklahoma by scheming and corrupt politicians he protests that nothing of the sort would have been allowed to happen in ancient Rome. On his way out of town he imagines that he is back in Imperial Rome, where he is sold in a slave market to good-natured tribune Josephus (David Manners). Eddie soon discovers that Roman society was just as corrupt as in his own town and when he decides to do something about it he becomes involved in court intrigue and a murder plot against the evil Emperor Valerius (Edward Arnold) himself.
Cast list
- Eddie Cantor as Eddie/Oedipus
- The Goldwyn Girls as Slave Girls
- Ruth Etting as Olga
- Gloria Stuart as Princess Sylvia
- Edward Arnold as Emperor Valerius
- David Manners as Josephus
- Verree Teasdale as Empress Agrippa
- Alan Mowbray as Majordomo
- Jack Rutherford as Manius (as John Rutherford)
- Willard Robertson as Warren Finley Cooper
- Lee Kohlmar as Storekeeper
- Richard Alexander as Valerius' Soldier (uncredited)
- Stanley Andrews as Official (uncredited)
- Charles Arnt as Caius - the Food Taster (uncredited)
- Billy Barty as Little Eddie (uncredited)
Soundtrack
- "Build a Little Home"
- Music by Harry Warren
- Lyrics by Al Dubin
- Performed by Eddie Cantor and chorus
- Reprised by Eddie Cantor and chorus
- "No More Love"
- Music by Harry Warren
- Lyrics by Al Dubin
- Sung by Ruth Etting
- Danced by chorus
- "Keep Young and Beautiful"
- Music by Harry Warren
- Lyrics by Al Dubin
- Performed by Eddie Cantor with chorus
- Danced by chorus
- "Put a Tax on Love"
- Music by Harry Warren
- Lyrics by Al Dubin
- Sung by Eddie Cantor
- "All of Me"
- Music by Gerald Marks
- Lyrics by Seymour Simons
- Sung by Eddie Cantor
- "Dinah"
- Music by Harry Akst
- Lyrics by Sam Lewis and Joe Young
- Sung by Eddie Cantor
- "Kickin' the Gong Around"
- Music by Harold Arlen
- Lyrics by Ted Koehler
- Sung by Eddie Cantor
- "Turkey in the Straw"
- Traditional
- Played in the opening scene
Critical response
- A written media review is located at: In: Monthly Film Bulletin (UK), Vol. 1, Iss. 8, September 1934, (MG)
See also
References
- ↑ "WHICH CINEMA FILMS HAVE EARNED THE MOST MONEY SINCE 1914?.". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956). Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 4 March 1944. p. 3 Supplement: The Argus Weekend magazine. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Roman Scandals. |