Producers: Buddy G. DeSylva, Lew Brown, Ray Henderson. Songs by Buddy G. DeSylva, Lew Brown, Ray Henderson: "Sunny Side Up" (Gaynor, White, Richardson, Brendel and chorus); "I'm a Dreamer" (Gaynor); "If I Had a Talking Picture of You" (Gaynor, Farrell and children); "Turn on the Heat" (Lynn and female chorus); "You've Got Me Pickin' Petals Off o' Daisies" (White and Richardson); "You Find the Time, I'll Find the Place" (Lynn); "It's Great To Be Necked" (White). Other songs: "Just a Song at Twilight"; "Red, White and Blue". Music director: Howard Jackson. Associate music director: Arthur Kay. Dances staged by Seymour Felix.
Copyright 8 October 1929 by Fox Film Corporation. New York opening at the Gaiety: 3 October 1929. U.S. release: 13 December 1929. 13 reels. 133 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Rich boy falls for poor girl.
NOTES: 100% talkie debuts for both Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. Possible movie debut of Marjorie White. (The other contender is "Happy Days". Which movie came first is a good question. Both were in production at the same time).
Although Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times accorded "Sunny Side Up" (sic) a rave review, the movie did not figure on his Top Ten of the year. However, he did place it in his Supplementary List.
COMMENT: At least I don't have to go to bat for Sunny Side Up. Everyone loves this movie. And rightly so! Indeed, some critics can't understand how a "dud" like "Broadway Melody" won awards right and left, and this gem was simply passed over. But that's Hollywood!
In "The Best Things In Life Are Free" a great deal of the plot hinges on DeSylva's solo career at Paramount, but the joint movie efforts of the trio are not so much as mentioned, even though this wonderful movie, for instance, incorporates some of their best songs into its charmer of a rich-boy-falls-for-poor-girl plot. Not only are the tunes rich in lyrics and melody, but many are produced on a lavish scale that would send Busby Berkeley green with envy.
It's hard to believe the movie runs 133 minutes. Whilst watching the story unfold, it seems more like eighty! Resourceful director David Butler sets the tone right from the opening credits with a sweepingly elaborate dolly shot that just takes my breath away. Other highlights range from the staggering "Turn on the Heat" production number to the small scale "I'm a Dreamer" which cute Janet Gaynor introduces in her two-room tenement apartment whilst accompanying herself on the zither.
Miss Gaynor is perfectly cast, managing the dress-and-poise transformation from East Side to Southampton with ease. Mr. Farrell plays the doesn't-know-what's-good-for-him youth with grace and conviction. Outstanding support is provided by Marjorie White, Frank Richardson and Sharon Lynn.
Production values are out of this world.
Copyright 8 October 1929 by Fox Film Corporation. New York opening at the Gaiety: 3 October 1929. U.S. release: 13 December 1929. 13 reels. 133 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Rich boy falls for poor girl.
NOTES: 100% talkie debuts for both Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. Possible movie debut of Marjorie White. (The other contender is "Happy Days". Which movie came first is a good question. Both were in production at the same time).
Although Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times accorded "Sunny Side Up" (sic) a rave review, the movie did not figure on his Top Ten of the year. However, he did place it in his Supplementary List.
COMMENT: At least I don't have to go to bat for Sunny Side Up. Everyone loves this movie. And rightly so! Indeed, some critics can't understand how a "dud" like "Broadway Melody" won awards right and left, and this gem was simply passed over. But that's Hollywood!
In "The Best Things In Life Are Free" a great deal of the plot hinges on DeSylva's solo career at Paramount, but the joint movie efforts of the trio are not so much as mentioned, even though this wonderful movie, for instance, incorporates some of their best songs into its charmer of a rich-boy-falls-for-poor-girl plot. Not only are the tunes rich in lyrics and melody, but many are produced on a lavish scale that would send Busby Berkeley green with envy.
It's hard to believe the movie runs 133 minutes. Whilst watching the story unfold, it seems more like eighty! Resourceful director David Butler sets the tone right from the opening credits with a sweepingly elaborate dolly shot that just takes my breath away. Other highlights range from the staggering "Turn on the Heat" production number to the small scale "I'm a Dreamer" which cute Janet Gaynor introduces in her two-room tenement apartment whilst accompanying herself on the zither.
Miss Gaynor is perfectly cast, managing the dress-and-poise transformation from East Side to Southampton with ease. Mr. Farrell plays the doesn't-know-what's-good-for-him youth with grace and conviction. Outstanding support is provided by Marjorie White, Frank Richardson and Sharon Lynn.
Production values are out of this world.