weezeralfalfa Review of Swing Parade of 1946

Swing Parade of 1946 (1946)

A decent Monogram musical comedy, including the Three Stooges.

[7/10 · 11 March 2019]

I was very surprised that Monogram could make such a musical comedy. I though they just made westerns.........So far, there are 2 groups of reviewers: those who found this obscure musical comedy unexpectedly entertaining, and those who found it a bore, except perhaps for the Three Stooges. I fall into the first group, and disagree with its low mean rating.........The Stooges do their expected schtick as amateur dishwashers, plumbers, and waiters. Louis Jordan does his expected eccentric singing and dancing around in 2 jazz numbers. Edward Brophy is always getting into trouble, as expected. But , the interactions between stars Gale Storm and Phil Regan, and between Gale and bandleader Will Osborn or grandfatherly Russel Hicks are also often amusing. Young Windy Cook has a dandy feature, mimicking the noise of various mechanical devices, including fighter planes and locomotives, to an astonished Ed Brophy. .......Gale's big musical number is the standard "On the Sunny Side of the Street.", which served as her audition for Phil's opening nightclub. Of course, she got the job. But, previously her prospects didn't look good, as she was taken as a hated process server masquerading as a singer. Thus, she was pushed out the door, or laughed at. Upon meeting Phil, she just wanted to leave, hence, mistakenly gave him her eviction notice rather than the summons given to her by Phil's father, played by charismatic Russell Hicks, who wants to prevent the opening of his son's nightclub, for personal reasons. Assuming she is broke and homeless, Phil asks the Stooges to run and bring her back. They carry her back kicking and screaming, with a surprise audition awaiting her. After her audition, Phil suggests they have dinner privately. Gale is skittish about this, as she fears it may lead to the casting couch. When she enters Phil's private quarters, there is a couch, and Brophy soon puts some sheets on it, thus apparently confirming her fears. Brophy also brings in some night clothes for her. She runs for the door, but the Stooges enter in their white night clothes, and she faints(Why? Did she think them ghosts?). She remains unconscious the rest of the evening and night. When she awakens, she finds she is wearing pajamas, and wonders who took her clothes off. Phil assures her that Marie(Mary Treen) did. Of course, soon she and Phil fall in love. .........Russell Hicks becomes a victim when he enters the club on its opening night, incognito. The Stooges, as waiters, smell a process server, and they are right. So they rough him up, tearing his clothes, pulling him to the exit, and push him into the street. Later, he announces that he was pleasantly surprised by the show, and tears up his summons.........Noted singer and composer Connee Boswell gets to sing the standard "Stormy Weather", twice, actually. The second time is in the finale, where she is the center of attention, as the film ends. .......I thought the comedy-strong first half generally was more entertaining than the music-strong second half. Overall, I thought the blending of the Stooges with conventional musical comedy people worked out well.......See it at YouTube!