Step Lively (1944)
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27% of users liked it
(57 ratings)
Previously filmed as a so-so Marx Brothers vehicle in 1938, the John Murray-Alan Boretz Broadway hit Room Service was effectively musicalized in 1944 as Step Lively. The plot remains intact: Fly-by-night theatrical producer Gordon Miller (Groucho Marx in the 1938 film, George Murphy in the remake)… More Previously filmed as a so-so Marx Brothers vehicle in 1938, the John Murray-Alan Boretz Broadway hit Room Service was effectively musicalized in 1944 as Step Lively. The plot remains intact: Fly-by-night theatrical producer Gordon Miller (Groucho Marx in the 1938 film, George Murphy in the remake) struggles to keep his production and cast together, despite severe deficiencies in the money department. Hotel-chain supervisor Wagner (Adolphe Menjou) threatens to throw Miller and his actors off the premises, an eventuality Miller hopes to forestall until he can obtain $50,000 from a wealthy backer. Meanwhile, Glen Davis (Frank Sinatra), the author of Miller's play, shows up to see how things are going. Before long, Glen is swept up in a desperate plot hatched by Miller and his underlings Binion (Wally Brown) and Harry (Alan Carney) to stay in the hotel despite Wagner's efforts to oust them. Caught in the middle are hapless hotel manager Gribble (Walter Slezak), potential backer Jenkins (Eugene Pallette), Glen's sweetheart Miss Abboli (Anne Jeffreys) and Miller's leading lady Christine (Gloria DeHaven). This being a musical, the outcome hinges on Glen's hitherto untapped singing ability, which might save the day if he overcomes a bout of psychosomatic laryngitis. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Tim Whelan
- Written By
- Warren Duff
- Genres
- Musical & Performing Arts, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jul 26, 1944 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Without the Marx Brothers, the music improves but the comedy proves witless.
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The action only slows down long enough to admit a musical number or some snappy dialogue.
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...empty-headed, to be sure, but it's also breezy, lightweight, antic fun
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Cast
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Frank Sinatra
as Glen Russell
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George Murphy
as Gordon Miller
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Adolphe Menjou
as Wagner
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Gloria de Haven
as Christine Marlowe
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Eugene Pallette
as Jenkins
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Walter Slezak
as Joe Gribble
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Wally Brown
as Binion
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Alan Carney
as Harry
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Grant Mitchell
as Dr. Glass
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Anne Jeffreys
as Miss Abbott
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Frances King
as Mother
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Harry Noble
as Father
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George Chandler
as Country Yokel
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Rosemary La Planche
as Louella
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Dorothy Malone
as Telephone operator
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Frank Mayo
as Doorman
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Elaine Riley
as Lois
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Lee Murray
as Bellboy
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Shirley O'Hara Krims
as Louise
- Gloria Dehaven
