Applause (1929)

Director:

Rouben Mamoulian

Writers:

Beth Brown (novel)
Garrett Fort (adaptation)

Release Date:

4 January 1930 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Musical

Tagline:

Is Kitty a mother?

Plot:

This early example of the "backstage" musical genre tells the story of Kitty Darling, a fading burlesque...

Plot Keywords:

Burlesque | Catholic School | One Word Title | Convent School | Mother Love

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Helen Morgan	...	Kitty Darling
Joan Peers	...	April Darling
Fuller Mellish Jr.	...	Hitch Nelson
Jack Cameron	...	Joe King
Henry Wadsworth	...	Tony
Roy Hargrave	...	Slim Lamont
Dorothy Cumming	...	Mother Superior

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Kaufman Astoria Studios - 3412 36th Street, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Some sources erroneously credit Paul Barrett with the role of Slim Lamont. Roy Hargrave plays this role; Barrett does not appear in the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When April comes backstage to see Kitty after returning home from the convent, the shot from outside the dressing room shows Kitty sitting at her mirror and then turning to see April in the doorway. In the next shot, from inside the dressing room, she once again is sitting at her mirror and once again turns to see April entering.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 100 Years at the Movies (1994) (TV)

Soundtrack:

What Wouldn't I Do for That Man?

A great example of early sound film.

Rouben Mamoulian established the possibilities the talkie, showing great flexibility in using location shots outdoors. A scene shot on the Brooklyn Bridge walkway just amazed me. Not the static feeling you expect from the first talkies at all. Helen Morgan gives a very moving performance as well, making the obsolete melodrama moving and in places quite modern in its way. With "Applause" and "Love Me Tonight" Mamoulian established the outline for the art of the talking picture.