HOLLYWOOD HOTEL (Warner Bros. 1937) Warner Home Video

Most fondly recalled today for ‘Hooray for Hollywood’, one of the irrefutable anthems to that picture-making mecca, co-written by Johnny Mercer and Richard A. Whiting, director, Busby Berkeley’s Hollywood Hotel (1937) caps off Berkeley’s final flowering as Warner Bros.’ go-to choreographer/director of escapist musical fluff. For Warners, Berkeley arguably did his best work – definitely, his most consistently creative, transforming scores of dancers into geometric patterns by using his inimitable brand of kaleidoscopic super-kitsch. Hollywood Hotel is not exactly an exercise for Berkeley to really show off what he can do, despite its mind-boggling musical offerings, hinged on a wafer of a plot knocked out by screenwriters, Jerry Wald, Maurice Leo and Richard Macaulay. Ironically, Hollywood Hotel sparkles with an unusual brilliance not limited to its musical performances - perhaps because, for once, the studio allowed Berkeley to direct an entire feature. Hence, the inevitable break between Berkeley’s sumptuous escapism and the rather pedestrian staging of another director for the non-musical portions is absent here. We get continuity instead.

The screenplay casts Dick Powell as Ronnie Bowers, a singing saxophone player who warbles his way into a talent contest. In true dreamland-styled fantasy wish-fulfillment come true, this predictably leads to a long-term contract at a major Hollywood studio. Unfortunately for Bowers, like so many star-struck kids, his dreams are quickly relegated to background scenery in other stars’ pictures. Worse, after hearing Ronnie sing, the studio decides to exploit him as a vocal dub for their current male star, ham actor, Alexander Dupre (Alan Mowbray). After witnessing Dupre’s fracturing of his tender lyric on the big screen, Ronnie has had enough. He storms out of the theater and sincerely contemplates walking out on his ironclad contract. However, Ronnie believes his luck is about to change for the better after he mistakenly assumes, he will be escorting film legend, Mona Marshall (Lola Lane) to a world premiere. In fact, he has been assigned to accompany Mona’s understudy, Virginia Stanton (Rosemary Lane) – a dead ringer for Marshall - instead.

Predictably, after some initial angst and misdirection, Ronnie and Virginia fall in love. Combining their dreams, invested in a common goal, the two conspire to make Alexander miss his big debut as a guest on gossip columnist, Louella Parson’s radio program, broadcast live from the lavishly appointed Orchid Room inside the Hollywood Hotel. Virginia pretends to be Mona, driving off with Alexander while Ronnie takes his place opposite Mona at the broadcast. By the time Alexander realizes he has been duped it is too late. His career is over and Hollywood has its new male star. The musical program of Hollywood Hotel delivers many a frothy delight, but its iconic moment will always be ‘Hooray for Hollywood’. For the rest, Benny Goodman and his Orchestra (including a cameo of a very young, Harry James) provide some wonderful swing tunes. The finale, set to a revamped full orchestral and choral arrangement of the classic Otchichornya is an absolute knockout. With this movie, Warner Bros. closed out a decade of vintage Busby Berkeley-ana. But it did so, on a very high note indeed.

Warner Home Video’s DVD is very pleasing. A few minor instances of edge enhancement do not impact the overall quality of the B&W transfer. Contrast levels are solid and bang on. Blacks are deep and velvety. Whites are generally clean and never blooming. Fine detail is evident throughout. The gray scale exhibits a smooth tonality. The mono audio is adequately represented. Extras are limited to a few vintage short subjects and theatrical trailer.

FILM RATING (out of 5 - 5 being the best)

3.5

VIDEO/AUDIO

4

EXTRAS

2