Directed: Charles Reisner

Year: 1929

Nominated: Best Film

Plot in 25 Words: Songs, dancing, gymnastics, comedy routines, more songs, more dancing, cartwheels, songs, compering, songs, wow colour, songs, dancing, songs, dancing, Shakespeare, and a big showstopping finale.

In My Opinion: I’m very confused. I’m not entirely sure how/why this production was nominated for a best film Oscar. It’s not a film. It’s a random collection of scenes, skits and numbers. That’s it. It’s essentially a cinema released 1920s Royal Variety Performance.

It was certainly entertaining and according to the line-up it starred a variety of big names. But it wasn’t a film!

There was no theme, no apparent order to the skits. The comperes/masters of ceremonies, Conrad Nagel and Jack Benny did their best to keep things moving along with brief bursts of humour. The show really could have used a laugh track. A lot of jokes I didn’t get and a lot I couldn’t tell if they were actually jokes or not.

Complete lack of plot (or any of the things commonly used to make a film) aside, some of the skits were entertaining.

The Laurel and Hardy skit was funny and the first one I had ever watched, it surprised me how much I chuckled! There was a Cossack-style gymnastic sequence that had me tense with the danger of it. Very talented (and brave!) people. A distinct lack of health and safety in the workplace on display!

I was surprised by the amount of technicolour. One small scene and the huge set piece at the end. It might have been more impressive had I known more of the players. As it was I only recognised a couple of stars from a few of the films I’ve watched so far and wow was I proud of myself!!

Star Performer: Marion Davies. Wow. An awesome, and slightly dizzying set of cartwheels. Over and over and over again. Made my head spin just to watch, and all in time to a dancing military band. Very impressive.

Overall: Decent collection of routines but it’s not a film.