Spotlight Revue (1943)

Director:

William Beaudine

Writers:

William Beaudine (story) and
Beryl Sachs (story)

Release Date:

26 July 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Plot:

A down-on-his luck actor teams up with a singing barber to do a vaudeville act. Its success eventually leads them to Broadway, but things start to go awry. |

Plot Keywords:

Team | Barber | Vaudeville | Broadway | Actor

Cast

Billy Gilbert	...	Billy
Frank Fay	...	Frank
Bonnie Baker	...	Singer Bonnie Baker
Billy Lenhart	...	Butch
Charles D. Brown	...	Buddy
Harry Langdon	...	Oscar
Iris Adrian	...	Bernice
Jimmy Hollywood	...	Radio Rogues Member (as The Radio Rogues)
Eddie Bartell	...	Radio Rogues Member (as The Radio Rogues)
Sydney Chatton	...	Radio Rogues Member (as The Radio Rogues)
James Bush	...	Jerry
Claudia Dell	...	Betty
Eddie Parks	...	Eddie
Betty Blythe	...	Mrs. Baker
Herb Miller	...	Herb Miller, Orchestra Leader

Also Known As:

Spotlight Scandals (USA) (original script title)
Spotlight on Scandal (USA) (TV title)

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved

Company:

Banner Productions

Soundtrack:

Oh, Johnny

Yes, spots and light.

In my lifelong festival viewing all films Monogram, I have been twice 'lucky' to see SPOTLIGHT SCANDALS. Once when I was ten years old. Now, 43 years later I now know why I couldn't remember it. Another comment here offers excellent insight into Monogram production methods and the stars of this haphazard but very entertaining film. But also very forgettable because it is just like a dozen other Monogram films which looks and sounds like this one. However, there is some outstanding elements: Basically the film has a very funny script. Actual 'laugh out loud' quips and reactions... and the casting is effective with Fay and Gilbert making a great opposites/pairing. The ghastly rough delivery from Iris Adrian lends her usual buzz saw brashness which is fun in a sort of hick Eve Arden way and sad clown from the 20s Harry Langdon makes a final appearance - or next to it - as someone's manager. The orchestra scenes are set with the usual plain curtains and a few tables and chairs, but the songs are good and the lively music (of mostly unheard of tunes) interesting only because you might never have ever heard of them before or since. I liked this film but found it also so familiar in its Monogram cheapness.... which, even for a real fan like me is actually wearing thin... like the fabrics here seen again and again, crumpled and draped on anyone and anything.... I think the most outrageous offense is in the genuinely threadbare musical ZIS BOOM BAH which offers a crumpled clumsy finale even out maneuvering Monogram into a cheapness that defies belief. SPOTLIGHT SCANDALS is a near barrel bottom scraper. But a good script and fun characters and good music. The only real scandal evident was the production itself.