- Published on
“A gay little trifle”
Date of Release: Nov 10, 1929
Studio: RKO
Director: Marshal Neilan
Screenplay: Thomas J. Geraghty, Louis Sarecky
Music: Sidney Clare, Oscar Levant
Choreographer: Pearl Eaton
Leading Actors: June Clyde (Peggy Reynolds), Arthur Lake (Bill), Sally Blane (Janet Reynolds), Allen Kearns (Roger), Albert Gran (Mr. Reynods), Nella Walker (Sophie Reynolds), Edmund Burns (Clinton Darrow), Dorothy Revier (Mrs. Lyons-King), Ann Pennington (Tootie), Lincoln Stedman (Pudgy), Lloyd Hamilton (Detective)
Tanned Legs is a quintessential early talkie and pre-code musical, fluffy on the surface but containing plenty of wonderful music, and a genuine heart at its center. The script it often slow, with painful scenes shot as though the actors are standing on a stage, though plenty of comic relief is provided through suggestive humor and fluffy dance numbers.
Although the opening title card informs the audience that the most important thing of the summer is the Annual Orphan’s Benefit, the story is entirely focused on Peggy’s desire to stop her parents’ flirtations outside of their marriage and bring the family back together. The Benefit provides a backdrop for singing and dancing, and an excuse to feature plenty of chorus girls with the whitest tanned legs you've ever seen.
Peggy (June Clyde) is being wooed by the sweet and attentive Bill (Arthur Lake), but she insists she is not interested in marriage until she sorts out her family. Her mother Sophie, played with great humor by Nella Walker, is having a summer fling with Roger (Allen Kearns). Meanwhile, her father Mr. Reynolds (Albert Gran) is flirting with Mrs. Lyons-King (Dorothy Revier). To top it all off, her sister Janet (Sally Blane) has engaged in a relationship with Mr. Darrow and regrettably written him salacious letters.
The scenes alternate between each of the couples, with tedious dialogue that is broken by the occasional witty jab, and song and dance number. When Peggy confronts her father for flirting, Mr. Reynolds claims that he and Mrs. Lyons-King were “just about to pop in the water for a dip.” Peggy replies, “You don’t need to go in the water, you’re already wet.”
Peggy is an interesting and frustrating character who is accurately described by Mordaunt Hall in the New York Times as “a complete nuisance, a Pollyanna, a little Miss Fixit and a “sweet young thing,” all rolled into one annoying role.” Although Peggy seems prudish with an obsessive desire to control the actions of her parents and sister, we learn that her actions come from a place of love.
Peggy is willing to sacrifice her own relationship with the devoted Bill to ensure her family stays together. She repeatedly tells Bill she is not ready to marry, finally stating “A girl has got a right not to get married until she wants to.” Even though Bill woos Peggy with the beautiful love song “With You – With Me,” she does not fall helplessly into his arms.
Furthermore, Peggy is willing to risk her reputation to help her family she is willing to risk her own reputation. She remains true to her purpose, and risks her own reputation to recover Janet’s letters.
In the process, Peggy reveals a scheme by Mr. Darrow and Mrs. Lyons-King to fleece the family of their money. Discovering what their youngest daughter and sister has done, and the potential sacrifice of her actions, the family realizes the error of their ways. The film closes with the fulfilment of Peggy’s desire for a cohesive family unit.
The highlight of Tanned Legs is the music, composed by prolific writers Sidney Clare and Oscar Levant. The opening number, “Come in the Water,” is light and silly and designed to show off the chorus girls’ legs. As suggested by the title, legs are a recurring visual theme throughout the film. Choreographed by Pearl Eaton, whose work in Rio Rita displayed some innovation, the dancing is quite repetitive. It served its purpose however, with the The Film Daily critic noting, “there are some bathing suit ensembles that don’t hurt the eyes at all,” and Hollywood Filmograph stating that the film was “easy to look at.”
“You’re Responsible,” performed by Janet and Roger preparing for the benefit, is a fun Cole Porter type song and dance about a couple’s love/hate relationship. Sally Blane, a former child star who had also appeared in The Show of Shows, and Allen Kearns, a well-known Canadian stage actor, are terrific performers. In this number however, they are slightly mismatched as Blane is a stronger singer and Kearns a better dancer.
“With You - With Me” is a beautiful love song, and occurs as an expression of Bill’s earnest love for Peggy. Breaking convention, the song is not part of a performance, or explained in any way. The ability of a character to break out into song without a convoluted set-up is incredibly refreshing. The song is later reprised by Peggy during the Orphan’s Benefit.
While The New York Times stated the film was “Filled with inanities,” and The Educational Screen called it “Cheap [and] unwholesome,” Tanned Legs received mostly positive reviews. Hollywood Filmograph stated, “Its chief purpose is to entertain and it accomplishes that with joyful ease.” Motion Picture News called the film “Good light entertainment,” and Variety affirmed it was “A gay little trifle.”
Audiences seemed to enjoy the film too, and the film played to strong houses around the country.
Studio: RKO
Director: Marshal Neilan
Screenplay: Thomas J. Geraghty, Louis Sarecky
Music: Sidney Clare, Oscar Levant
Choreographer: Pearl Eaton
Leading Actors: June Clyde (Peggy Reynolds), Arthur Lake (Bill), Sally Blane (Janet Reynolds), Allen Kearns (Roger), Albert Gran (Mr. Reynods), Nella Walker (Sophie Reynolds), Edmund Burns (Clinton Darrow), Dorothy Revier (Mrs. Lyons-King), Ann Pennington (Tootie), Lincoln Stedman (Pudgy), Lloyd Hamilton (Detective)
Tanned Legs is a quintessential early talkie and pre-code musical, fluffy on the surface but containing plenty of wonderful music, and a genuine heart at its center. The script it often slow, with painful scenes shot as though the actors are standing on a stage, though plenty of comic relief is provided through suggestive humor and fluffy dance numbers.
Although the opening title card informs the audience that the most important thing of the summer is the Annual Orphan’s Benefit, the story is entirely focused on Peggy’s desire to stop her parents’ flirtations outside of their marriage and bring the family back together. The Benefit provides a backdrop for singing and dancing, and an excuse to feature plenty of chorus girls with the whitest tanned legs you've ever seen.
Peggy (June Clyde) is being wooed by the sweet and attentive Bill (Arthur Lake), but she insists she is not interested in marriage until she sorts out her family. Her mother Sophie, played with great humor by Nella Walker, is having a summer fling with Roger (Allen Kearns). Meanwhile, her father Mr. Reynolds (Albert Gran) is flirting with Mrs. Lyons-King (Dorothy Revier). To top it all off, her sister Janet (Sally Blane) has engaged in a relationship with Mr. Darrow and regrettably written him salacious letters.
The scenes alternate between each of the couples, with tedious dialogue that is broken by the occasional witty jab, and song and dance number. When Peggy confronts her father for flirting, Mr. Reynolds claims that he and Mrs. Lyons-King were “just about to pop in the water for a dip.” Peggy replies, “You don’t need to go in the water, you’re already wet.”
Peggy is an interesting and frustrating character who is accurately described by Mordaunt Hall in the New York Times as “a complete nuisance, a Pollyanna, a little Miss Fixit and a “sweet young thing,” all rolled into one annoying role.” Although Peggy seems prudish with an obsessive desire to control the actions of her parents and sister, we learn that her actions come from a place of love.
Peggy is willing to sacrifice her own relationship with the devoted Bill to ensure her family stays together. She repeatedly tells Bill she is not ready to marry, finally stating “A girl has got a right not to get married until she wants to.” Even though Bill woos Peggy with the beautiful love song “With You – With Me,” she does not fall helplessly into his arms.
Furthermore, Peggy is willing to risk her reputation to help her family she is willing to risk her own reputation. She remains true to her purpose, and risks her own reputation to recover Janet’s letters.
In the process, Peggy reveals a scheme by Mr. Darrow and Mrs. Lyons-King to fleece the family of their money. Discovering what their youngest daughter and sister has done, and the potential sacrifice of her actions, the family realizes the error of their ways. The film closes with the fulfilment of Peggy’s desire for a cohesive family unit.
The highlight of Tanned Legs is the music, composed by prolific writers Sidney Clare and Oscar Levant. The opening number, “Come in the Water,” is light and silly and designed to show off the chorus girls’ legs. As suggested by the title, legs are a recurring visual theme throughout the film. Choreographed by Pearl Eaton, whose work in Rio Rita displayed some innovation, the dancing is quite repetitive. It served its purpose however, with the The Film Daily critic noting, “there are some bathing suit ensembles that don’t hurt the eyes at all,” and Hollywood Filmograph stating that the film was “easy to look at.”
“You’re Responsible,” performed by Janet and Roger preparing for the benefit, is a fun Cole Porter type song and dance about a couple’s love/hate relationship. Sally Blane, a former child star who had also appeared in The Show of Shows, and Allen Kearns, a well-known Canadian stage actor, are terrific performers. In this number however, they are slightly mismatched as Blane is a stronger singer and Kearns a better dancer.
“With You - With Me” is a beautiful love song, and occurs as an expression of Bill’s earnest love for Peggy. Breaking convention, the song is not part of a performance, or explained in any way. The ability of a character to break out into song without a convoluted set-up is incredibly refreshing. The song is later reprised by Peggy during the Orphan’s Benefit.
While The New York Times stated the film was “Filled with inanities,” and The Educational Screen called it “Cheap [and] unwholesome,” Tanned Legs received mostly positive reviews. Hollywood Filmograph stated, “Its chief purpose is to entertain and it accomplishes that with joyful ease.” Motion Picture News called the film “Good light entertainment,” and Variety affirmed it was “A gay little trifle.”
Audiences seemed to enjoy the film too, and the film played to strong houses around the country.
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