"Hollywood Hotel" is a screwball musical comedy. It starts with Ronnie Bowers (Dick Powell)--an all-American boy saxophonist--leaving St. Louis for the Hollywood big time. Benny Goodman and friends play him off while Alice (Frances Langford) makes unnoticed goo-goo eyes at the clueless Ronnie.
When he arrives in Hollywood, Allstar Pictures pays for his room in the Hollywood Hotel, where he is told to wait. For what, we don't know. Meanwhile, superstar actress and major pain in the neck Mona Marshall (Lola Lane) is suffering through another day of rough gown fittings and pampering when she discovers Allstar did not cast her in a plum part. She vows in retaliation to boycott the premiere of her new film that night.
The studio decides to find a look alike for Mona to attend the premiere and they luckily find Virginia (Rosemary Lane--another of the five Lane sisters). Later we find out that Virginia works in the hotel's coffee shop; what are the odds? They have Ronnie escort her. He thinks he is with Mona, the star. They hit it off and perform the duet "I'm Like a Fish Out of Water." How appropriate for both of them.
Throughout the film, Benny Goodman appears with his orchestra and his sizzling quartet--reason enough to see this film. Alice comes with them but shows no interest in Ronnie. The plot is thin, mainly serving as rests between the wonderful musical performances. Some vocal performances are good, but most of the tunes are mediocre.
The screwball elements include a pointless scene involving dogs running loose in the hotel lobby. When it comes to character actors Ted Healy and Hugh Herbert, a little goes a long way, but they are used excessively throughout the film, as is Louella Parsons. It's all a matter of taste, but I enjoy the performance of the actress who plays Mona's sister with her awkward, goofy persona.
Director Busby Berkeley's trademark extravagance is held in check, thankfully, though the musical performances in the hotel's Orchid Room are robust.
Though its plot is just fish out of water meets girl with mistaken identity, "Hollywood Hotel" is worth seeing for its big band performances and its general tone of sweetness.
When he arrives in Hollywood, Allstar Pictures pays for his room in the Hollywood Hotel, where he is told to wait. For what, we don't know. Meanwhile, superstar actress and major pain in the neck Mona Marshall (Lola Lane) is suffering through another day of rough gown fittings and pampering when she discovers Allstar did not cast her in a plum part. She vows in retaliation to boycott the premiere of her new film that night.
The studio decides to find a look alike for Mona to attend the premiere and they luckily find Virginia (Rosemary Lane--another of the five Lane sisters). Later we find out that Virginia works in the hotel's coffee shop; what are the odds? They have Ronnie escort her. He thinks he is with Mona, the star. They hit it off and perform the duet "I'm Like a Fish Out of Water." How appropriate for both of them.
Throughout the film, Benny Goodman appears with his orchestra and his sizzling quartet--reason enough to see this film. Alice comes with them but shows no interest in Ronnie. The plot is thin, mainly serving as rests between the wonderful musical performances. Some vocal performances are good, but most of the tunes are mediocre.
The screwball elements include a pointless scene involving dogs running loose in the hotel lobby. When it comes to character actors Ted Healy and Hugh Herbert, a little goes a long way, but they are used excessively throughout the film, as is Louella Parsons. It's all a matter of taste, but I enjoy the performance of the actress who plays Mona's sister with her awkward, goofy persona.
Director Busby Berkeley's trademark extravagance is held in check, thankfully, though the musical performances in the hotel's Orchid Room are robust.
Though its plot is just fish out of water meets girl with mistaken identity, "Hollywood Hotel" is worth seeing for its big band performances and its general tone of sweetness.