Tonight's Movie: Hooray for Love (1935) - A Warner Archive DVD Review

Ann Sothern and Gene Raymond star in the RKO musical HOORAY FOR LOVE (1935), available on DVD from the Warner Archive.

HOORAY FOR LOVE was the first of five films teaming Sothern and Raymond. Three of their titles have previously been reviewed here: WALKING ON AIR (1936), SMARTEST GIRL IN TOWN (1936), and SHE'S GOT EVERYTHING (1938). The final title they made together was THERE GOES MY GIRL (1937).

HOORAY FOR LOVE is a modest if ultimately worthwhile film which begins with new college graduate Douglas Tyler (Raymond) crushing on nightclub singer Patricia Thatcher (Sothern), but he's annoyingly pushy and she understandably could care less.

Time passes and Doug has trouble finding work after graduation, ultimately landing a job as a tour guide at a radio station. He's stunned to rediscover Patricia, singing on one of the station's shows.

Patricia's con artist father, "Commodore" Thatcher (Thurston Hall) learns that although Doug doesn't have any cash flow, he's inherited a large family home, and he scams Doug out of money, making him think he's buying into a Broadway show starring Patricia.

Although the crooks working with the Commodore are caught, it's actually a good show which deserves a chance, and the Commodore goes to great lengths to set things right and make sure it opens as planned.

There's more to the rambly plot, which isn't particularly interesting, especially during the film's middle act when Sothern is off the screen much of the time and the annoying Pert Kelton moves front and center. Too much time spent on the supporting cast also means that the Sothern-Raymond romance is weakly developed.

It also must be admitted that the songs by Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh are little more than pleasant, with "I'm in Love All Over Again" being the most memorable.

However, all was forgiven in the last third of the film when Bill Robinson, Jeni LeGon, and Fats Waller moved front and center for "I'm Livin' in a Great Big Way." It's an interesting number of substantial length which I really enjoyed, and Robinson's dancing in particular was absolutely terrific. Tap dance fans will want to see the movie for this sequence alone.

There's also a nice ballet performed by Maria Gambarelli, backed by several dancers. Incidentally, Lucille Ball is said by IMDb to be in the chorus; I thought I might have glimpsed her a couple times but was never certain.

Other familiar faces in the film include Lionel Stander, Georgia Caine, and Lynne Carver (Bess in MGM's '38 A CHRISTMAS CAROL). Bess Flowers can be clearly spotted in her usual spot as a nightclub extra.

The film's relatively brief 72-minute running time works in its favor, given the slight nature of the storyline. Despite the movie's flaws, the stronger moments made me glad I'd spent the time on it, and I smiled during the "feel good" final sequence.

The movie was directed by Walter Lang, who would go on to many bigger and better movie musicals.  It was filmed by Lucien Andriot. The many contributors to the story treatment and screenplay included Vera Caspary, author of the novel LAURA.

The Warner Archive DVD has a good print and sound. There are no extras on the disc.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this DVD. Warner Archive releases are MOD (manufactured on demand) and may be ordered from the Warner Archive Collection at the WBShop or from any online retailers where DVDs and Blu-rays are sold.