A song plugger is stranded in a small town. There he meets a girl who later helps him to put on a show on Broadway.A song plugger is stranded in a small town. There he meets a girl who later helps him to put on a show on Broadway.A song plugger is stranded in a small town. There he meets a girl who later helps him to put on a show on Broadway.
Leo Carrillo
- Nick Pappacropolis
- (as Leo Carillo)
Jack Denny
- Jack Denny - Orchestra Leader
- (as Jack Denny and His Orchestra)
Frank Britton
- Frank Britton
- (as Frank and Milt Britton and Band)
Milt Britton
- Milt Britton
- (as Frank and Milt Britton and band)
Helen Bennett
- Showgirl
- (uncredited)
Alexander Campbell
- Undetermined Role
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis picture was filmed at the former Paramount East Coast studio at Astoria, Queens, NY.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Beer and Pretzels (1933)
Featured review
Surprisingly Good Thirties Musical
This is an enjoyable,unpretentious Pre-Code Musical,made on a limited budget,yet as fun and entertaining as some of the Warner Bros. movies it sought to imitate!
Filmed in less than 3 weeks at the Astoria studios and Casino theatre,New York,it nevertheless had an earnest,determined Cast and Crew of some talent;plus good songs and dancing sequences. The latter,staged and choreographed by Bobby Connolly,were not over-choreographed,like those at Warner,and this comparative simplicity actually makes the routines much more endearing and believable! Real Showgirls performing like Real Stage Showgirls!!
Roger Pryor,as the pressurized Songwriter turned Theatrical Producer,proves to be a versatile lead,with a pleasant singing voice too. He is little known now,but appeared in quite a number of 30's/40's films. His co-star and romantic interest here is Mary Brian,former Silent movie leading lady:She is okay in her "Ruby Keeler" type role. Lillian Miles,though,is the standout Female performer,with her peppy,energetic,no-nonsense approach as sexy Elsie Warren,proposed star of Roger Pryor's debut production.She really puts over her songs well,including "Ah,But is it Love?" and "Are You Making any Money?,both of which became popular successes.
Leo Carrillo is fun in his pivotal role as Nick Pappacropolis,the Greek Gambler and new Citizen of the United States( United Steps in his amusing vocabulary!),who comes to the rescue of the new show,enamoured as he is with Elsie!
Even Herbert Rawlinson,as the shady big-time gambler Sport Powell,acquainted with Nick,and interested in the show because he is keen on Mary Brian and wants to try and "further" her career: proves that he isn't quite such a bad egg after all. It all comes down to the flip of a coin!
Others in the cast include Bobby Watson,as the harassed dance director,and William Frawley,who contribute ,in their different ways,to the general ambience of the movie. Several Radio and Stage performers of the time also feature,some more fleetingly than others.These include Alexander Gray(Good rendition of the optimistic "Dusty Shoes" number),Bernice Claire,John Hundley and Jack Denny and Orchestra,among others.
The New York Chorus Girls perform well,especially in the catchy "I've Gotta Get Up and go to Work"number,including a saucy,pre-code Silhoutte sequence as they disrobe and change into their daywear!
Although the Musical Film Author Richard Barrios wrote that "Moonlight and Pretzels" was 'Terribly Wonderful',I would describe it as 'Audaciously Wonderful". I have watched it many times,and can fully understand why it was such a popular movie on it's release.
helpful•20
- chrisludlam
- Aug 8, 2020
Details
- Runtime1 hour 23 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was Moonlight and Pretzels (1933) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer