It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

This week’s musical:
Spring is Here (1930) – Musical #745

Studio:
First National Pictures, distributed by Warner Bros.

Director:
John Francis Dillon

Starring:
Lawrence Gray, Alexander Gray, Bernice Claire, Frank Albertson, Inez Courtney, Louise Fazenda, Ford Sterling, Natalie Moorhead, Gretchen Thomas (uncredited)
Themselves: The Brox Sisters (Bobbe Brox, Kathlyn Brox, Lorayne Brox)

Plot:
Betty (Claire) returns home at 5 a.m. after being out with her sweetheart, Steve (Lawrence Gray). That day, her father is furious, disapproving of Steve but approving of Terry (Alexander Gray), another young man who cares for Betty. But Betty doesn’t care for Terry, so her sister Mary Jane (Courtney) creates a plan to make Betty jealous.

Trivia:
• Based on the play “Spring Is Here” written by Owen Davis, Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers, which opened in New York on March 11, 1929. Several of the songs in the original show were not used in the film.
• The film was edited into a 1933 musical short, “Yours Sincerely.”
• Alexander Gray and Bernice Claire co-starred in three films together in 1930.
• “Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder (for Somebody Else)” was written for the movie but not used.
• Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was originally announced to be in the film, but didn’t appear in the final project. Lawrence Gray was cast in the role instead.

Highlights:
• Frank Albertson singing

Frank Albertson and Inez Courtney

Notable Songs:
• “Spring is Here” performed by Frank Albertson and Inez Courtney
• “Yours Sincerely” performed by Alexander Gray and Bernice Claire
• “Bad Baby” performed by Inez Courtney
• “Cryin’ for the Carolines” performed by the Brox Sisters
• “With a Song in My Heart” performed by Lawrence Gray and Bernice Claire
• “What’s the Big Idea?” performed by Frank Albertson and Inez Courtney

My review:
As I’ve mentioned any times, early musicals can be tough to watch. Songs seem random and haphazard. However, “Springs is Here” (1930) is an example of how an early sound musical can be done well, perhaps because it was adapted from a stage musical.

While reviewers in 1930 and today don’t seem to like this film, I didn’t mind it. Largely because the musical portions flow so well with the storyline.

Each song occurs organically, as the performer sings their emotions rather than speaking them, so it doesn’t feel as random.

The film follows Betty (Claire), who has been out with her boyfriend Steve (Lawrence Gray), who her father doesn’t approve of. Her father approves of another suitor, Terry (Alexander Gray). Because Betty cares for Steve and not Terry, her sister Mary Jane (Courtney) creates a plan to make Betty jealous and fall for Terry.

The main actors I was familiar with were secondary characters: Frank Albertson, Inez Courtney and Louise Fazenda. And while they aren’t the stars, their characters were the most memorable of the film.

Frank Albertson is adorable, and Albertson and Inez kick off the film with a song. Bernice Claire is charming and has a beautifully singing voice, though I’ll admit, I confused Lawrence Gray and Alexander Gray (who were not related).

Alexander Gray and Bernice Claire were being built up as an opera singing duo, with three films together in 1930.

I also wasn’t familiar with the Brox Sisters singing trio, and it was interesting to see them perform in this film.

What’s interesting about this film, is that film historians note that few people saw it when it was released and it seems to not have had a New York City run.

While “Spring is Here” isn’t the best film, it has a youthful feel and the music is performed well. Modern reviewers pan this one too, but you know? I’ve definitely seen worse in the grand scheme of musicals.

Is the script flawed? Well I confused the two competing male leads and constantly was checking which fellow was which – I’m still not sure if I’m 100 percent certain. This is partially because of their similar names and partially because of their appearances. I also wasn’t clear who I was supposed to be rooting for.

My other complaint is that the film needed more Frank Albertson.

Otherwise, it’s not a half bad early musical and sings (and dances) circles around other musical films of this time.

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