Musical Monday: Let’s Make Music (1940)

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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:
Let’s Make Music (1940) – Musical #268

Studio:
RKO Radio Pictures

Director:
Leslie Goodwins

Starring:
Jean Rogers, Elisabeth Risdon, Joseph Buloff, Joyce Compton, Benny Bartlett, Louis Jean Heydt, Bill Goodwin, Frank Orth, Grant Withers, Benny Rubin, Gale Sherwood (billed as Jacqueline Nash), Donna Jean Dolfer, Walter Tetley
As themselves: Bob Crosby, The Bob Crosby Orchestra, Bob Haggart, Ray Bauduc

Plot:
Small town high school teacher, Malvina Adams (Risdon), teaches a classical music class that most of the students find boring. In an effort to excite the students about music, she writes a school spirit song. The students don’t like it, but she sends it to a music publisher. Bandleader Bob Crosby (as himself) finds it and thinks the song is great, inviting Malvina to New York City to perform it. Her niece, Abby (Rogers), objects to her aunt going to the city and joins, but Malvina decides she’s going to have fun with her new success.

Trivia:
• Working title was “Malvina Swings It”

Highlights:
• Aunt Malvina in the nightclub
• Performance of “Big Noise from Winnetka”

Notable Songs:
• “Big Noise from Winnetka” performed by Bob Crosby, Bob Haggart, Ray Bauduc and his Bobcats
• “Fight on for Newton High” performed by Bob Crosby, reprised by Elisabeth Risdon
• “You Forgot About Me” performed by Bob Crosby and his Bobcats
• “Central Park” performed by Bob Crosby, reprised by Donna Jean Dolfer and Gale Sherwood

My review:
When this week’s Musical Monday, LET’S MAKE MUSIC (1940), was released, reviews said it was one of the worst films ever made. I heartily disagree.

With fun music and an adorable storyline, LET’S MAKE MUSIC is so much fun.

In the film, small town high school teacher, Malvina Adams (Risdon), teaches a classical music class that most of the students find boring. In an effort to excite the students about music, she writes a school spirit song. The students don’t like it, but she sends it to a music publisher. Bandleader Bob Crosby (as himself) finds it and thinks the song is great, inviting Malvina to New York City to perform it. Her niece, Abby (Rogers), objects to her aunt going to the city and joins, but Malvina decides she’s going to have fun with her new success.

I love a story where an older character kicks up their heels and does what they want. At one point, Aunt Malvina exclaims, “I’m 60 years old and I’m going to see the inside of a night club!” Good for Aunt Malvina! Elisabeth Risdon does an excellent job with this role and it’s fun to see her in such a different film.

In addition to Risdon’s adorable performance, the main highlight is seeing bandleader and singer Bob Crosby and his band. Brother of Bing Crosby, Bob Crosby wasn’t as popular as his older brother but is so likable and talented.

I first saw LET’S MAKE MUSIC (1940) back in high school and was obsessed at the time with Brosby’s famous song “Big Noise from Winnetka.” The highlight of the film is the performance of this song with bass player Bob Haggart and drummer Ray Bauduc.

While this is a brief, low budget musical film, it’s still lots of fun. Thankfully it’s not too hard to find and was previously released on DVD.

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