Second Chorus (1940)

Director:

H.C. Potter

Writers:

Frank Cavett (story)
Elaine Ryan (writer) ...

Release Date:

3 January 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Musical

Plot:

When perennial college students Danny O'Neill and Hank Taylor are forced to make it on their own, the competitive pair get jobs with Artie Shaw's band and reunite with ex-manager Ellen Miller.

Plot Keywords:

College Student | Rivalry | Audition | Beautiful Woman | Musician

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Fred Astaire	...	Danny O'Neill
Paulette Goddard	...	Ellen Miller
Artie Shaw	...	Himself
Charles Butterworth	...	J. Lester Chisholm
Burgess Meredith	...	Hank Taylor
Frank Melton	...	Stu
Jimmy Conlin	...	Mr. Dunn (as Jimmy Conlon)
Don Brodie	...	Apartment Desk Clerk
Marjorie Kane	...	Whiteman's secretary
Joan Barclay	...	Whiteman's receptionist
Willa Pearl Curtis	...	Scrubwoman

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #6708)

Filming Locations:

Occidental College -1600 Campus Road, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Cut from the movie was "Me and the Ghost Upstairs" (music by Bernard Hanighen, lyrics by Johnny Mercer), sung by Fred Astaire and danced by him with the film's dance director, Hermes Pan, who was covered by a sheet. The prerecording and rehearsal footage still exist. Mr. Astaire's commercial waxing, initially released by Columbia Records on a single, has been reissued on two import CD box sets: "The Centenary Collection" from by the British label Castle Pulse, and "Songs & Pictures 1928-1944" on EPM Music, a French company.

Quotes:

Ellen Miller: [in a fake Russian accent] Vas good?
Danny O'Neill: Vas per-fect.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got (1985)

Soundtrack:

Sugar

First string

Astaire is as light on his feet and with his banter in this film as Ali would be years later. Fierce and funny, this film is a knockout. I tuned in expecting to see a B-grade Astaire film as many reviews note, but found it to be an underappreciated gem. As far as disposable comedies go, this film is leagues ahead of what passes for said genre today. Effervescent and hip, the film never strikes a false note, the jazz is hot, and while the songs may not be familiar standards, they mesh well with the plot and have a comic touch that is absent in a lot of musicals. There is never a dull moment, and Burgess Meredith, as second banana, is a delight. It is thoroughly enjoyable.