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 800. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.
This week’s musical:
Sons O’ Guns (1936) – Musical #861
Studio:
Warner Bros.
Director:
Lloyd Bacon
Starring:
Joe E. Brown, Joan Blondell, Beverly Roberts, Eric Blore, Craig Reynolds, Winifred Shaw, Joe King, Robert Barrat, G.P. Huntley, Grant Mitchell, Bert Roach, David Worth, David Worth, Mischa Auer
Plot:
Broadway actor Jimmy Canfield (Brown) has no desire to enlist during World War I, and faces criticism from his audiences, his girlfriend Mary (Roberts) and his girlfriend’s father (King). Jimmy says he can’t get mad at anything. While trying to avoid a breach of promise suit with a former suitor, Bernice (Shaw), Jimmy escapes a confrontation by saying he enlisted. While thinking he’s playing a joke, the joke is on him when he actually enlists in the U.S. Army.
Trivia:
• Based on the 1929 stage musicals, “Sons O’ Guns,” written by John Frederick Coots, Arthur Swanstrom, Benny Davis, Frederick A. Thompson and Jack Donahue. The show played for 295 performances. On the stage, William Frawley played the Eric Blore role and Jack Donohue played the lead of Jimmy.
• “Over Here” is the only song from the original show that was used in the film.
• “Arms of an Army Man” and “A Buck and a Quarter a Day” were written for the film by Harry Warren and Al Dubin.
• Originally was planned to be filmed with Al Jolson and Lili Damita in 1931.
Highlights:
• Eric Blore
• Dance routine with Joan Blondell and Joe E. Brown
Notable Songs:
• “Over Here” performed by Joe E. Brown
• “For a Buck and a Quarter a Day” performed by Joe E. Brown and Joan Blondell
My review:
Actor Joe E. Brown is best known for his comedy and how he uses his large mouth for comedic effect, especially with long drown out shouts.
In SONS O’ GUNS (1936), Brown gets the opportunity to sing and dance, though I’ll admit, I would have preferred that he had more songs.
In the film, Broadway actor Jimmy Canfield (Brown) has no desire to enlist during World War I, and faces criticism from his audiences, his girlfriend Mary (Roberts) and his girlfriend’s father (King). Jimmy says he can’t get mad at anything. While trying to avoid a breach of promise suit with a former suitor, Bernice (Shaw), Jimmy escapes a confrontation by saying he enlisted. While thinking he’s playing a joke, the joke is on him when he actually enlists in the U.S. Army.
Once in France, Jimmy runs into issues. Since he didn’t actually go to basic training, he struggles with military basics. Especially when his former valet, Hobson (Blore), is now his commanding officer. He also finds himself swimming in women when Mary and Bernice arrive and France, and he’s smitten with a French bar maid, Yvonne (Blondell).
In 2019 when “1917” was released, contemporary news outlets tried to tout that there never had been many World War I films. But if you go far back enough before World War II, you see numerous films – be it comedy, crime or drama – that feature plots either directly linked or indirectly linked to WWI and this is one of them.
SONS O’ GUNS itself is quite funny. It’s especially hilarious singing Eric Blore’s character, Hobson, start out as a soft valet to Broadway star, Jimmy Canfield. But then Hobson joins the Army and is Jimmy’s commanding sergeant. It’s a funny juxtaposition of Hobson, who describes him now as two people, one who loves flowers and one who is a shouting sergeant.
As always, Joe E. Brown is very funny, especially as he accidentally begins leading a group of Germans.
The miss for me in this film is Joan Blondell, who I otherwise love, but she has an awful French accent. Throughout this movie, I kept thinking Blondell’s character was going to say “Just kidding, I’m actually from Brooklyn” and drop the bad French accent, but she does not.
Beverly Roberts and Winifred Shaw (sometimes billed as Wini Shaw) are wasted in this film, however. Wini Shaw is such a specific 1930s performer, I always love to see her. What’s disappointing about this film is she is credited with singing a song, but I didn’t see or hear it in the print I watched. It was already a crime that Shaw only got one song, and not even getting to hear it was a further injustice.
Overall, there aren’t a ton of songs in this film that was adapted from a Broadway musical, but running at 75 minutes, it’s enough to satisfy me. There’s also a charming dance number with Joan Blondell and Joe E. Brown and a humorous Apache dance number.
Admittedly, I always find Joe E. Brown a good time and this film is no exception. I just wish it had given Wini Shaw more screentime.
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