The Goldwyn Follies (1938)
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50% of users liked it
(31 ratings)
A longtime admirer of Broadway impresario Flo Ziegfeld, Hollywood producer Sam Goldwyn hoped to emulate the success of The Ziegfeld Follies by producing an annual movie-musical revue. Goldwyn's dream began and ended with 1938's Goldwyn Follies, a film centering on Goldwyn-like movie producer… More A longtime admirer of Broadway impresario Flo Ziegfeld, Hollywood producer Sam Goldwyn hoped to emulate the success of The Ziegfeld Follies by producing an annual movie-musical revue. Goldwyn's dream began and ended with 1938's Goldwyn Follies, a film centering on Goldwyn-like movie producer Oliver Martin (Adolphe Menjou). It seems that Martin's films haven't been turning a profit lately, and he wants to find out why by eliciting the advice of the average filmgoer. He makes the acquaintance of pretty Hazel Dawes (Andrea Leeds), who tells Martin that the movies suffer from unbelievable storylines, cliched dialogue and wooden acting. Impressed, Martin hires Hazel as "Miss Humanity," allowing her to judge the merits of his latest production and even to select the cast members. Among Hazel's discoveries are singing hash-slinger Danny Beecher (Kenny Baker), opera diva Leona Jerome (Helen Jepson), and prima ballerina Olga Samara (Vera Zorina). Also hoping to appear in Martin's upcoming epic are ventriloquist Edgar Bergan and his wisecracking dummy Charlie McCarthy, and a trio of zany animal trainers who look, sound and act like the Ritz Brothers. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- George Marshall
- Written By
- Ben Hecht
- Genres
- Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 28, 1938 Wide
- On DVD
- Apr 7, 2009
Critic Reviews
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A musical pretense that's meant to satisfy the average joes.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
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Cast
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Adolphe Menjou
as Oliver Merlin
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The Ritz Brothers [Al Jimmy Harry]
as Themselves
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Vera Zorina
as Olga Samara
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Kenny Baker
as Danny Beecher
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Andrea Leeds
as Hazel Dawes
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Helen Jepson
as Leona Jerome
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Ella Logan
as Clary Wood
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Phil Baker
as Michael Day
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Bobby Clark
as A. Basil Crane Jr.
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Jerome Cowan
as Director
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Nydia Westman
as Ada
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Charles Kullmann
as Alfredo
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Frank Shields
as Assistant Director
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Edgar Bergen
as Himself
- American Ballet of the Metrop. Opera
- Vivian Austin
- George Balanchine
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Joseph Crehan
as Theater Manager
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Roland Drew
as Igor
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Alan Ladd
as Auditioning Singer
- Dummy: Charlie McCarthy
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Walter Sande
as Westinghouse
- Jane Hamilton
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Frank Mills
as Prop Man
- Marjorie Deanne
- Lynne Berkeley
- Judith Ford
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Gloria Youngblood
as Goldwyn Girl
