Tag Archives: Dolores Del Rio

Musical Monday: Flying Down to Rio (1933)

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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:
Flying Down to Rio (1933) – Musical #94

Studio:
RKO Radio Pictures

Director:
Thornton Freeland

Starring:
Dolores del Rio, Gene Raymond, Raul Roulien, Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, Blanche Friderici, Eric Blore, Franklin Pangborn, Walter Walker, Etta Moten, Roy D’Arcy, Maurice Black, Armand Kaliz, Paul Porcasi, Reginald Barlow, Theresa Harris (uncredited), Clarence Muse (uncredited)
Performers: Movita

Plot:
Pilot Roger Bond (Raymond) is the bandleader of the Yankee Clippers. However, the band’s success is hindered by Roger’s flirtatious eye. As soon as they land a new job, he sees Belinha (Del Rio) and begins to pursue her. His efforts (and new job) are cut off by Belinha’s chaperone and aunt (Friderici). Learning that Belinha is heading to Rio de Janeiro, he volunteers to fly her there, and gets a job for his band to perform there as well. The only issue is that Belinha turns out being engaged to Julio Rubeiro (Roulien), and he can’t get an entertainment license to perform at the hotel.

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Musical Monday: I Live for Love (1935)

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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 500. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

i live for loveThis week’s musical:
“I Live for Love” (1935)– Musical #547

Studio:
Warner Brothers

Director:
Busby Berkeley

Starring:
Dolores Del Rio, Everett Marshall, Guy Kibbee, Allen Jenkins, Berton Churchill, Hobart Cavanaugh, Don Alvarado

Plot:
Donna (Del Rio) is a diva of the stage and wants her lover Rico (Alvarado) as her leading man. To keep this from happening, the producers (Churchill, Cavanaugh) grab Roger Kerry (Marshall) off the street and say he has a contract. Donna and Roger butt heads, he’s replaced by Rico, and Donna’s play flops. While her fame flops, Roger rises as a huge radio star. The two eventually fall in love, and Roger wants both of them to leave their careers behind.

Trivia:
-This is the second and last film of the film’s leading man, Everett Marshall. Marshall was a Metropolitan Opera singer and preferred the stage.
-Originally titled “Romance in a Glass House, according to Buzz: The Life and Art of Busby Berkeley by Jeffrey Spivak

Benton Churchill and Dolores Del Rio in "I Live for Love."

Benton Churchill and Dolores Del Rio in “I Live for Love.”

Highlights:
-Allen Jenkins dancing and singing to a ridiculous tune

Notable Songs:
-“Mine Alone” performed by Everett Marshall
-“I Live for Love” performed by Everett Marshall

My review:
“I Live for Love” is a fairly forgettable hour-long film.

Though this musical was directed by Busby Berkeley directed films, there are no Berkeley numbers—really no dance numbers in the film at all. The only musical numbers in the film are performed by opera singer, Everett Marshall.

Dolores Del Rio is always photographed beautifully and capable in her films, but t

Not familiar the name Everett Marshall? That’s not surprising. Marshall, a Metropolitan Opera and Broadway performer, was only in two films and this was his last film.

Though Marshall and Del Rio are the stars, character actors Allen Jenkins, Berton Churchill, Hobart Cavanaugh and Guy Kibbee are the real stars of the show. They carried the film and were the most memorable characters.

If you are a fan of Warner Brother’s fan or trying to see Busby Berkeley, I suggest seeing it. If not, don’t waste your time.

Dolores Del Rio and Everett Marshall in "I Live for Love."

Dolores Del Rio and Everett Marshall in “I Live for Love.”

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Musical Monday: In Caliente (1935)

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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 500. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

in calienteThis week’s musical:
“In Caliente” –Musical #404

Studio:
Warner Brothers

Director:
Lloyd Bacon, Busbey

Starring:
Dolores Del Rio , Pat O’Brien, Edward Everett Horton, Glenda Farrell, Leo Carrillo, Wini Shaw
Themselves: Tony De Marco, Sally De Marco, Judy Canova,

Plot:
Magazine editor Larry MacArthur (O’Brien) is taken by his assistant Harold Brandon (Horton) to Mexico so that MacArthur can get away from his gold digging fiance Clara (Farrell). In Mexico, MacArthur falls in love with the beautiful dancer Rita Gomez (Del Rio), who he once gave a bad review of her dancing in his magazine.

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