- Published on
A genuine and terrific comedy starring the Duncan Sisters.
Date of Release: Dec 6, 1929
Studio: MGM
Director: Sam Wood
Screenplay: Byron Morgan, Alfred Block, Al Boasborg, Willard Mack
Composers: Dave Dreyer, Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal, Ballard MacDonald, Manuel M. Ponce, Francis Wheeler
Choreographer: Sammy Lee
Leading Actors: Rosetta Duncan (Casey Hogan), Vivian Duncan (Babe Hogan), Lawrence Gray (Jimmy Dean), Benny Rubin (Benny Friedman), Jed Prouty (Mr. Parker), Clarence Burton (Cop), George Davis (Store show stage hand), Oscar Apfel (Mr. Mandelbaum), George Periolat (Mr. Weill), Rolfe Sedan (Vaudeville violinist), Ann Dvorak (Dancer in "Hoosier Hop" number)
The Duncan Sisters were real-life sisters Rosetta and Vivian Duncan. The pair started performing in vaudeville as children, and became a highly popular act. By the mid-1920s they were starring in their own Broadway show, Topsy and Eva.
Topsy and Eva was based on the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and featured Vivian as the sweet-natured Eva, and Rosetta as Topsy in blackface. The show was written by Catherine Chisolm Cushing, and featured music written by the Duncan Sisters. The show was an immense hit, with Rosetta and Vivian performing all over the United States, Europe, and South America. It was adapted into a silent film in 1927.
Studio: MGM
Director: Sam Wood
Screenplay: Byron Morgan, Alfred Block, Al Boasborg, Willard Mack
Composers: Dave Dreyer, Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal, Ballard MacDonald, Manuel M. Ponce, Francis Wheeler
Choreographer: Sammy Lee
Leading Actors: Rosetta Duncan (Casey Hogan), Vivian Duncan (Babe Hogan), Lawrence Gray (Jimmy Dean), Benny Rubin (Benny Friedman), Jed Prouty (Mr. Parker), Clarence Burton (Cop), George Davis (Store show stage hand), Oscar Apfel (Mr. Mandelbaum), George Periolat (Mr. Weill), Rolfe Sedan (Vaudeville violinist), Ann Dvorak (Dancer in "Hoosier Hop" number)
The Duncan Sisters were real-life sisters Rosetta and Vivian Duncan. The pair started performing in vaudeville as children, and became a highly popular act. By the mid-1920s they were starring in their own Broadway show, Topsy and Eva.
Topsy and Eva was based on the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and featured Vivian as the sweet-natured Eva, and Rosetta as Topsy in blackface. The show was written by Catherine Chisolm Cushing, and featured music written by the Duncan Sisters. The show was an immense hit, with Rosetta and Vivian performing all over the United States, Europe, and South America. It was adapted into a silent film in 1927.
Everyone is having a great time in It's a Great Life
It’s a Great Life was the Duncan Sisters’ first talkie feature. Initially titled Imperfect Ladies and Cottons and Silks, the film was aimed as a follow up to The Broadway Melody. Surprisingly, and thankfully, the Topsy character is completely absent from It’s a Great Life, and the sisters play heightened versions of themselves.
Film historian Edwin Bradley describes the film as “a charming, high-spirited show case for the duo,” and he is spot on. The film is an absolute delight, featuring fun songs, three Technicolor revue scenes, and some hilarious comedy. The story follows the trials and tribulations of the Hogan sisters, the sweet and silly Babe (Vivian Duncan) and the brash and comical Casey (Rosetta), who are store clerks with dreams of making it big in vaudeville.
The film opens with a policeman chasing two women who he suspects to be pickpockets. A huge crowd is soon following and causing mayhem along the street. The group laughs heartily at the policeman when it is discovered the women were only rushing to get to work at the department store.
The Hogan sisters rush into the morning staff meeting where it is announced that the annual show will be directed by the store’s pianist Jimmy Dean (Lawrence Gray) - who is sitting behind a collection of MGM sheet music, "The Wedding of the Painted Doll," from The Broadway Melody, also on display, and The Hollywood Revue of 1929.
Film historian Edwin Bradley describes the film as “a charming, high-spirited show case for the duo,” and he is spot on. The film is an absolute delight, featuring fun songs, three Technicolor revue scenes, and some hilarious comedy. The story follows the trials and tribulations of the Hogan sisters, the sweet and silly Babe (Vivian Duncan) and the brash and comical Casey (Rosetta), who are store clerks with dreams of making it big in vaudeville.
The film opens with a policeman chasing two women who he suspects to be pickpockets. A huge crowd is soon following and causing mayhem along the street. The group laughs heartily at the policeman when it is discovered the women were only rushing to get to work at the department store.
The Hogan sisters rush into the morning staff meeting where it is announced that the annual show will be directed by the store’s pianist Jimmy Dean (Lawrence Gray) - who is sitting behind a collection of MGM sheet music, "The Wedding of the Painted Doll," from The Broadway Melody, also on display, and The Hollywood Revue of 1929.
Note the MGM titles on display.
The staff sings the company song “Smile, Smile, Smile,” and Casey pulls faces, makes wisecracks, and sprays perfume into her mouth. Reprimanded for her actions, Casey, with the pathos of a clown, states “Everything is a laugh, the whole world’s a laugh. Except for getting fired, that’s no joke.”
Jimmy is a terrible director and the show is a hilarious disaster. A song about debutants features beautiful dresses and outfits, but the order of girls parading out doesn’t match the song lyrics. Casey injects her irreverent humor into the show, and although well-received by the audience, Casey, Babe, and Jimmy are fired from the department store.
A talent agent rescues the trio and they start touring on the vaudeville circuit. In rehearsals, Jimmy continues to prove his lack of talent but is saved by Casey (a reference to Rosetta’s real life role – Vaudeville Old & New states she was “always the more inventive half of the team”) who comes up with the idea of having the sisters appear out of the piano.
The act features some of the Duncan sisters’ most well-known songs, including the lovely “I’m Following You,” and the ridiculous comic number “It Must Be An Old Spanish Custom.” The latter song sees Casey picking grapes off her sister's hair piece, eating them, and spitting them out. The song features ridiculous lyrics such as -
Jimmy is a terrible director and the show is a hilarious disaster. A song about debutants features beautiful dresses and outfits, but the order of girls parading out doesn’t match the song lyrics. Casey injects her irreverent humor into the show, and although well-received by the audience, Casey, Babe, and Jimmy are fired from the department store.
A talent agent rescues the trio and they start touring on the vaudeville circuit. In rehearsals, Jimmy continues to prove his lack of talent but is saved by Casey (a reference to Rosetta’s real life role – Vaudeville Old & New states she was “always the more inventive half of the team”) who comes up with the idea of having the sisters appear out of the piano.
The act features some of the Duncan sisters’ most well-known songs, including the lovely “I’m Following You,” and the ridiculous comic number “It Must Be An Old Spanish Custom.” The latter song sees Casey picking grapes off her sister's hair piece, eating them, and spitting them out. The song features ridiculous lyrics such as -
He gave me nice compliments and
He stroked my hand
His manner was full of bravado.
He sang me sweet songs from his own native land
While he played on a big avocado!
...
Corona! Cabona! Nobody home-ah
And the moon was so silvery and bright
Oh sweet influenza cadenza
Can you picture anything more sweet?
Mendoza Ciceroza oh blow-za broke me nose-ah,
And I love maple syrup on my meat!"
Jimmy and Casey are forever arguing, much to Babe’s distress as she loves her sister, and is in love with Jimmy. Casey’s dislike for Jimmy is contrived to create drama, but we never understand the real reason behind it.
Jimmy and Babe show up an hour late to rehearsal, and announce that they have taken the liberty of getting married. Casey is furious, and the act is no more. Jimmy and Babe try to make it as a couple act, and Casey strikes out on her own. Neither is successful, and Babe becomes deliriously ill in her longing for her sister.
Jimmy and Babe show up an hour late to rehearsal, and announce that they have taken the liberty of getting married. Casey is furious, and the act is no more. Jimmy and Babe try to make it as a couple act, and Casey strikes out on her own. Neither is successful, and Babe becomes deliriously ill in her longing for her sister.
Babe has a fever dream, a beautiful Technicolor extravaganza at the Palace Theatre where the Hogan Sisters and Jimmy Dean have finally made it big. With dances by Broadway choreographer Sammy Lee, The “Hoosier Hop” and “Sailing on a Sunbeam” are terrific production numbers.
According to a report on Hollywood work schedules in Screenland, the scene was filmed under trying conditions after a long day of rehearsals and a shoot beset with technical issues. Vivian Duncan was deeply unhappy with the result and reportedly stated “It broke my heart to have the thing go out that way when I know how much better I can sing.”
The film ends with Babe, Casey, and Jimmy all happily reunited.
According to a report on Hollywood work schedules in Screenland, the scene was filmed under trying conditions after a long day of rehearsals and a shoot beset with technical issues. Vivian Duncan was deeply unhappy with the result and reportedly stated “It broke my heart to have the thing go out that way when I know how much better I can sing.”
The film ends with Babe, Casey, and Jimmy all happily reunited.
The critics either loved or hated It's a Great Life. The Film Daily stated it was a “thoroughly entertaining musical comedy,” and The Educational Screen noted it was “finely produced.” Meanwhile, a summary of newspaper reviews in Motion Picture News described the film as “the year’s worst,” and “pretty poor entertainment.” A movie fan in Picture Play wrote the film was “tedious.”
Even the music was not universally praised. Writing for Photoplay, music critic George Fenton described the record as “One of the prize discs,” noting that the Duncan sisters performed “in fine, harmonizing style.” Variety on the other hand stated the recordings were “ordinary” and only “Fair for dancing.”
Even the music was not universally praised. Writing for Photoplay, music critic George Fenton described the record as “One of the prize discs,” noting that the Duncan sisters performed “in fine, harmonizing style.” Variety on the other hand stated the recordings were “ordinary” and only “Fair for dancing.”
Vivian and Rosetta during "Smile, Smile, Smile"
Rosetta Duncan as Casey is a real highlight. Her strong belt coupled with fantastic comedic timing make her a wonderful performer to watch. Tragically, behind the smile, Rosetta was an alcoholic as a result of having to hide the fact she was a lesbian. She was killed in a car crash in 1959.
Vivian Duncan is no less brilliant, and is charming as the straight-laced though ditzy sister.
Film historian Edwin M. Bradley claims It’s a Great Life “faltered at the box office and helped to cut short the Duncans’ movie career,” however it played to strong houses around the country, and topped the box office takings in Los Angeles. As reported by Screenland, the film did well enough for MGM to sign the sisters to long-term contracts though they did not make any more feature films.
The Duncan Sisters continued to perform on stage into the 1950s, often reprising the Topsy and Eva characters. Vaudeville Old & New states that even though the use of blackface had gone out of style, “their material was still fresh.”
It's a Great Life may have been their only feature talkie, but the film serves as a wonderful reminder of Rosetta and Vivan's skills and talent. Their genuine affection for each other radiates from the screen, and the film is a real highlight of 1929. It is currently available to watch on YouTube, and on DVD through the Warner Archive Collection.
Vivian Duncan is no less brilliant, and is charming as the straight-laced though ditzy sister.
Film historian Edwin M. Bradley claims It’s a Great Life “faltered at the box office and helped to cut short the Duncans’ movie career,” however it played to strong houses around the country, and topped the box office takings in Los Angeles. As reported by Screenland, the film did well enough for MGM to sign the sisters to long-term contracts though they did not make any more feature films.
The Duncan Sisters continued to perform on stage into the 1950s, often reprising the Topsy and Eva characters. Vaudeville Old & New states that even though the use of blackface had gone out of style, “their material was still fresh.”
It's a Great Life may have been their only feature talkie, but the film serves as a wonderful reminder of Rosetta and Vivan's skills and talent. Their genuine affection for each other radiates from the screen, and the film is a real highlight of 1929. It is currently available to watch on YouTube, and on DVD through the Warner Archive Collection.
0 Comments