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A Warner Bros vehicle for "The Last of the Red Hot Mamas," Sophie Tucker.
Date of Release: June 4, 1929
Studio: Warner Bros
Director: Lloyd Bacon
Screenplay: C. Graham Baker, Leslie S. Barrows, Jack Yellen, DeLeon Anthony
Music : Milton Ager, Shelton Brooksword, Jack Yellen
Choreographer: Larry Ceballos
Leading Actors: Sophie Tucker (Sophie Leonard), Lila Lee (Beth), Audrey Ferris (Jean Gilmore), George Duryea (Freddie Gilmore), Mahlon Hamilton (Jim), John T. Murray (Cafe manager)
Honky Tonk tells the story of Sophie (Sophie Tucker) who works at a nightclub in order to pay for her daughter Beth (Lila Lee) to be educated overseas. Beth is oblivious to her mother’s vocation until, all grown up, she returns to America and falls in love with Freddie (George Duryea), who happens to be a patron at the club. Beth learns of Sophie’s scandalous employment, and vows to have nothing to do with her. Freddie convinces Beth that Sophie did it all for love, and all ends happily ever after, complete with a grandchild for the devoted Sophie.
The film was the screen debut of vaudeville star Sophie Tucker. Russian born Tucker grew up in Connecticut, and started out singing in restaurants and clubs, eventually touring in the south. Producers reportedly felt her “large size” would not be accepted by audiences, and so Tucker was required to perform in blackface. A chance performance without the blackface due to lost luggage wowed audiences, and from that point she was able to perform as herself. Tucker embraced her body size as part of her act and, combined with her sassy personality, became known as “The Last of the Red Hot Mamas.” She went on to become a huge star, performing around the world. A more detailed biography can be found here.
Studio: Warner Bros
Director: Lloyd Bacon
Screenplay: C. Graham Baker, Leslie S. Barrows, Jack Yellen, DeLeon Anthony
Music : Milton Ager, Shelton Brooksword, Jack Yellen
Choreographer: Larry Ceballos
Leading Actors: Sophie Tucker (Sophie Leonard), Lila Lee (Beth), Audrey Ferris (Jean Gilmore), George Duryea (Freddie Gilmore), Mahlon Hamilton (Jim), John T. Murray (Cafe manager)
Honky Tonk tells the story of Sophie (Sophie Tucker) who works at a nightclub in order to pay for her daughter Beth (Lila Lee) to be educated overseas. Beth is oblivious to her mother’s vocation until, all grown up, she returns to America and falls in love with Freddie (George Duryea), who happens to be a patron at the club. Beth learns of Sophie’s scandalous employment, and vows to have nothing to do with her. Freddie convinces Beth that Sophie did it all for love, and all ends happily ever after, complete with a grandchild for the devoted Sophie.
The film was the screen debut of vaudeville star Sophie Tucker. Russian born Tucker grew up in Connecticut, and started out singing in restaurants and clubs, eventually touring in the south. Producers reportedly felt her “large size” would not be accepted by audiences, and so Tucker was required to perform in blackface. A chance performance without the blackface due to lost luggage wowed audiences, and from that point she was able to perform as herself. Tucker embraced her body size as part of her act and, combined with her sassy personality, became known as “The Last of the Red Hot Mamas.” She went on to become a huge star, performing around the world. A more detailed biography can be found here.
Overall the film did well at the box office, but it was not a smash. In New York, Honky Tonk opened during one of the worst heat waves in forty years. The theatres were not yet equipped with air conditioning, and audiences stayed way from the movies. In Hollywood, the MGM Hollywood Revue of 1929 provided stiff competition, and reduced the ticket sales.
Variety (June 12, 1929) claimed that the lackluster script was a purposeful choice in order to give Tucker a “light load” for her first feature. The critics agreed that, although the script and dialogue were mediocre, Sophie Tucker and her supporting cast gave excellent performances.
The supporting cast were an impressive ensemble of well-established silent film stars. In the role of Sophie's daughter, Beth, Lila Lee was at the height of her fame in 1929. She had been a child star affectionately known as Cuddles, and due to her struggles with alcoholism her career declined in the 1930s. Despite her health troubles, Lee continued to act and appeared in B grade films and various television programs into the 1960s. She was the mother of James Kirkwood Jr., who wrote the book for A Chorus Line.
The cafe manager was played by Australian born John T. Murray, who appeared in nearly 100 Hollywood films. It would be fascinating to find out more about how and why this Melbournian ended up in Hollywood, and remained there for the rest of his life.
The highlight of Honky Tonk was the music, a vehicle for Tucker’s sassy, brassy vocals. Motion Picture News (June 8, 1929) reported that the songs “were greeted with cheers by the opening night audience.” The same reviewer gushed, “Sophie Tucker first, last and always… her songs and her inimitable manner of singing them.” Variety (June 12, 1929) wrote “Her singing voice aces and her speaking voice [is] far beyond expectation.” George Fenton, in his recently developed album review column in Photoplay (Dec 1929), described Tucker’s voice as “the voice with the smile of its own” and gave high praise to the “excellent” Victor recording.
The score featured some of Tucker’s most well-known hits, including "Some of These Days,” "I'm the Last of the Red-Hot Mammas," "I'm Doing What I'm Doing for Love," "He's a Good Man To Have Around," "I'm Feathering a Nest for a Little Bluebird," and "I Don't Want To Get Thin." The songs were composed by Milton Ager and Jack Yellen.
Variety (June 12, 1929) claimed that the lackluster script was a purposeful choice in order to give Tucker a “light load” for her first feature. The critics agreed that, although the script and dialogue were mediocre, Sophie Tucker and her supporting cast gave excellent performances.
The supporting cast were an impressive ensemble of well-established silent film stars. In the role of Sophie's daughter, Beth, Lila Lee was at the height of her fame in 1929. She had been a child star affectionately known as Cuddles, and due to her struggles with alcoholism her career declined in the 1930s. Despite her health troubles, Lee continued to act and appeared in B grade films and various television programs into the 1960s. She was the mother of James Kirkwood Jr., who wrote the book for A Chorus Line.
The cafe manager was played by Australian born John T. Murray, who appeared in nearly 100 Hollywood films. It would be fascinating to find out more about how and why this Melbournian ended up in Hollywood, and remained there for the rest of his life.
The highlight of Honky Tonk was the music, a vehicle for Tucker’s sassy, brassy vocals. Motion Picture News (June 8, 1929) reported that the songs “were greeted with cheers by the opening night audience.” The same reviewer gushed, “Sophie Tucker first, last and always… her songs and her inimitable manner of singing them.” Variety (June 12, 1929) wrote “Her singing voice aces and her speaking voice [is] far beyond expectation.” George Fenton, in his recently developed album review column in Photoplay (Dec 1929), described Tucker’s voice as “the voice with the smile of its own” and gave high praise to the “excellent” Victor recording.
The score featured some of Tucker’s most well-known hits, including "Some of These Days,” "I'm the Last of the Red-Hot Mammas," "I'm Doing What I'm Doing for Love," "He's a Good Man To Have Around," "I'm Feathering a Nest for a Little Bluebird," and "I Don't Want To Get Thin." The songs were composed by Milton Ager and Jack Yellen.
Milton Ager was a self-taught musician who started out in vaudeville and went on to become an incredibly influential and well-regarded composer. Some of his hits include “Happy Days are Here Again,” “Happy Feet,” “Vo-Do-De-O,” “Glad Rag Doll” and “Trust in Me.” He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1979.
Polish born Jack Yellen started out as a reporter before becoming a songwriter on Broadway. Signed by Fox, Yellen went on to write over 200 hundred songs, many of which are still performed today. His hits include “Happy Days Are Here Again,” “Ain’t She Sweet,” and “My Yiddishe Momme.” Throughout the 1930s, Yellen also wrote screenplays. His credits include George White’s 1935 Scandals (1935), Ali Baba Goes to Town (1937), Little Miss Broadway (1938), and My Lucky Star (1938).
Although the film is considered lost, the soundtrack has survived. Thankfully there are still plenty of other recordings of Sophie Tucker in action. The clip below, recorded in 1928, showcases Tucker’s wonderful voice at the height of its strength.
Polish born Jack Yellen started out as a reporter before becoming a songwriter on Broadway. Signed by Fox, Yellen went on to write over 200 hundred songs, many of which are still performed today. His hits include “Happy Days Are Here Again,” “Ain’t She Sweet,” and “My Yiddishe Momme.” Throughout the 1930s, Yellen also wrote screenplays. His credits include George White’s 1935 Scandals (1935), Ali Baba Goes to Town (1937), Little Miss Broadway (1938), and My Lucky Star (1938).
Although the film is considered lost, the soundtrack has survived. Thankfully there are still plenty of other recordings of Sophie Tucker in action. The clip below, recorded in 1928, showcases Tucker’s wonderful voice at the height of its strength.
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