Old Man Blues (1931) User Reviews

Ethel Meets The Blues

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 21 June 2009]

The movies could never quite figure out what to do with Ethel Merman, her appeal on stage was never translated to the big screen. This short which I'm guessing was made at the Paramount Astoria Studios while Merman was appearing in Girl Crazy on Broadway.

In it Merman plays a woman in deep depression wandering in some heady atmospheric night woods where she meets the Blues personified. Played by Broadway musical performer Hal Forde he and Merman sing a duet for her soul. Just when Merman is about to drown herself, her lover in the person of Hal Young appears and the girl is saved.

Though this is a good indication of the styling of the young Ethel Merman, I do so wish she had done something like I've Got Rhythm, so we could enjoy it as she sang it when she became a star in Depression era America.

A little bit of Merman goes a long way.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 1 December 2016]

"When you're sad, I'm glad" sings old man blues, giving it good to the long- suffering Ethel Merman in another rare one reel short that Merman made in her attempts to find film stardom after conquering Broadway. She's far too worldly to be believable as a sweet Polly Purebred, singing the blues over the supposed loss of a lover, following the devil like character to apparently more despair. Merman had the ability to break your heart in a torch song in her early days, sort of a less ethnic version of Fanny Brice. This is sort of eerie as it gives the impression that her evil companion is urging her to commit suicide, but of course, there's the twist at the end. I wouldn't call this a happy early short because it's very low key and even a bit depressing.

A Metaphoric Struggle Against "The Blues"

[macfilms · 8/10 · 11 June 2008]

A beguiling, even bizarre. musical short reminiscent of a Victor Herbert operetta or early musical dramas. Consumed by lost love, Ethel Merman wanders in a foggy forest near the tree when she and her lover carved their names years before. Here she encounters a strange old man cloaked in an dark cape. He is Old Man Blues, and he's there to lead Merman deeper and deeper into self-pity.

Totally in musical verse, she and Mr. Blues spar for her soul. Blues wins and almost convinces Merman to commit suicide because "there is nothing left to live for." Only the sudden return of her lover stops Merman from drowning herself.

Embracing and singing their renewed love for each other, the reunited couple turns away from Old Man Blues, leaving him alone in the dark forest. Filled with lonely atmosphere and engaging lyricism, this little film is a human metaphor for the ages.