Starring Bob Hope, Shirley Ross, Una Merkel, and Gene Krupa and His Orchestra
Directed by George Archainbauld
Music and Lyrics by various
Big band and swing music rose to popularity in the mid-30's as 20's jazz evolved into hotter, faster swing. Orchestras traveled the country, playing nightclubs in big towns and dance halls and hotel ballrooms in the smaller 'burgs. Everyone and anyone had their own orchestra in the 30's and 40's. Musicians broke off and formed their own orchestras, like Gene Krupa did when he left Benny Goodman to create his own band in 1938. By 1939, Krupa's band was popular enough to be paired with two more up-and-coming stars, Bob Hope and Shirley Ross, in one of the first musical films to revolve around that new jivin' sound. How does this showcase for Krupa's wild drum beat look today? Let's begin at Atlantic City, where Krupa and his play on the sidewalk as a lead-in to an even wilder boardwalk act, and find out...
The Story: Fast-talking Nicky Nelson (Hope) barks for low-rent acts like "The Living Corpse," but would love to sell Krupa and his orchestra as a major attraction. He can't attract the boardwalk patrons, even with Krupa's hot music, and the landlord closes the show when they don't pay the rent. His attempt to sell Krupa to the Paradise Ballroom on a near-by pier doesn't go over well. Owner Stephen Hanratty (Bernard Nedell) likes less wild forms of music.
He has more luck picking up singer Lily Raquel (Ross) and her friend Flo (Merkel), insisting he can help Lily find a career. Lily's not happy when he loses the ring he gave her in a crap game. Even after he manages to get Krupa heard, the newly-prosperous band tosses Nicky on the sidewalk. They eventually realize that they still need Nicky...and more to the point, he needs them.
The Song and Dance: Complicated story (from the failed play The Great Magoo) is really just a set-up for Krupa's drum solos and a few songs from Hope and Ross. The former doesn't disappoint. There's some great orchestra music here, including Krupa getting to do his stuff on at least four numbers. Hope's having a great time too as the huckster who thinks he's two steps ahead of everyone else when he really hasn't a clue.
Favorite Number: Of the three or four times we hear the title song, the best version is the opening number. Krupa and his boys play for a seemingly disinterested group of Atlantic City revelers. They may not be enjoying it, but the orchestra is, including a wild solo by Krupa. Krupa also gives us a terrific version of his own "Blue Rhythm Fantasy" later when they play on the boardwalk for a group of appreciative and agile jitterbuggers. We hear "The Lady's In Love With You" at least four times as well, but the best is its first run-through, when we see Nicky and Lily write it and how they come up with it.
Trivia: Remake of the 1934 Paramount film Shoot the Works.
Retitled Rhythm Romance for TV when Billy Wilder bought the title Some Like It Hot for his unrelated 1959 comedy.
This is Krupa's first film with his first band after he left Benny Goodman.
What I Don't Like: There's plenty of rhythm here, but not much romance...or anything else. The two main songs are played endlessly throughout the short running time. Ross comes in about half-way through and doesn't have much to do besides sing and complain about Hope and the ring. Krupa has a way with a pair of drumsticks, but his acting leaves more to be desired. And this is very obviously a low-budget show, with simple costumes and a cheesy Atlantic City background. Those looking for Hope in classier or more expensive fare will have go elsewhere.
The Big Finale: Rare B-pic is really best for major fans of Hope or big band music. For everyone else, it's a mildly pleasant hour's worth of entertainment if you can find it.
Home Media: The only place you can find this currently is in a copy on the Internet Archive.
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