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Sally (film)
Encyclopedia
Sally is the third all talking-all color movie ever made (the first was On with the Show
1929). The color process of Sally was Technicolor. Sally was also the 6th color movie released by Warner Brothers, the first five were The Desert Song
(1929), On With the Show (1929), Gold Diggers of Broadway
(1929), Paris
(1929), and The Show of Shows (1929).
It was based on the Broadway
stage hit, produced by Florenz Ziegfeld (which played at The New Amsterdam Theatre, from 12/21/1920 to 4/22/1922), and retains three of the stage production's Jerome Kern songs ("Look for the Silver Lining
", "Sally", and "Wild Rose"), the rest of the music newly written for the film by Al Dubin
and Joe Burke. Marilyn Miller, who had played the leading part in the Broadway production, was hired by the Warner Brothers at an extravagant sum (reportedly $1000 an hour for a total of $100,000) to star in the filmed version. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction by Jack Okey in 1930.
Sally (Marilyn Miller
) is an orphan who was named by the telephone exchange where she was abandoned as a baby. In the orphanage, she discovered the joy of dancing. Working as a waitress, she serves Blair (Alexander Gray), and they both fall for each other, but Blair is engaged to socialite Marcia. Sally is hired to impersonate a famous Russian dancer named Noskerova, but at that engagement, she is found to be a phoney. Undaunted, she proceeds with her life and has a show on Broadway, but she still thinks of Blair.
While never technically a "lost" film, Sally was unavailable for public viewing for nearly six decades. It wasn't until around 1990 when the film was once again available for archival and revival screenings. However, the film survives only in black and white except for a 2 minute color segment from the Wild Rose musical number, which was discovered in the 1990s and inserted into the print currently in circulation. Sepia-toned black and white footage is inserted to replace individual frames which are missing in the color fragment.
On with the Show (1929 film)
On with the Show! is a 1929 American musical film released by Warner Bros. The film is noted as the first ever all-talking all-color feature length movie, and the second color movie released by Warner Bros.; the first was a partly color, black-and-white musical, The Desert Song . -Plot:With unpaid...
1929). The color process of Sally was Technicolor. Sally was also the 6th color movie released by Warner Brothers, the first five were The Desert Song
The Desert Song (1929 film)
The Desert Song is a musical operetta film photographed partly in two-color Technicolor. This was the first movie released by Warner Bros. to be in color. Although some of the songs from the show have been omitted, the film is otherwise virtually a duplicate of the stage production...
(1929), On With the Show (1929), Gold Diggers of Broadway
Gold Diggers of Broadway (film)
Gold Diggers of Broadway is a 1929 Warner Bros. comedy/musical film which is historically important as the second two-strip Technicolor all-talking feature length movie . Gold Diggers of Broadway was also the third movie released by Warner Bros...
(1929), Paris
Paris (1929 film)
Paris is a black-and-white musical comedy film with Technicolor sequences: four of ten reels were originally photographed in Technicolor. Paris was the fourth color movie released by Warner Bros.; the first three were The Desert Song, On With the Show and Gold Diggers of Broadway, all released in...
(1929), and The Show of Shows (1929).
It was based on the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
stage hit, produced by Florenz Ziegfeld (which played at The New Amsterdam Theatre, from 12/21/1920 to 4/22/1922), and retains three of the stage production's Jerome Kern songs ("Look for the Silver Lining
Look for the Silver Lining
"Look for the Silver Lining" is a popular song with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by B.G. DeSylva. It was written in 1919 for the unsuccessful musical Zip, Goes a Million. In 1920 it was published and reused in the musical Sally whence it was popularized by Marilyn Miller...
", "Sally", and "Wild Rose"), the rest of the music newly written for the film by Al Dubin
Al Dubin
Alexander "Al" Dubin was an American lyricist. He became known through his collaborations with the composer Harry Warren.-Life and works:...
and Joe Burke. Marilyn Miller, who had played the leading part in the Broadway production, was hired by the Warner Brothers at an extravagant sum (reportedly $1000 an hour for a total of $100,000) to star in the filmed version. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction by Jack Okey in 1930.
Plot
Marilyn Miller
Marilyn Miller was one of the most popular Broadway musical stars of the 1920s and early 1930s. She was an accomplished tap dancer, singer and actress, but it was the combination of these talents that endeared her to audiences. On stage she usually played rags-to-riches Cinderella characters who...
) is an orphan who was named by the telephone exchange where she was abandoned as a baby. In the orphanage, she discovered the joy of dancing. Working as a waitress, she serves Blair (Alexander Gray), and they both fall for each other, but Blair is engaged to socialite Marcia. Sally is hired to impersonate a famous Russian dancer named Noskerova, but at that engagement, she is found to be a phoney. Undaunted, she proceeds with her life and has a show on Broadway, but she still thinks of Blair.
Preservation
Cast
- Marilyn MillerMarilyn MillerMarilyn Miller was one of the most popular Broadway musical stars of the 1920s and early 1930s. She was an accomplished tap dancer, singer and actress, but it was the combination of these talents that endeared her to audiences. On stage she usually played rags-to-riches Cinderella characters who...
as Sally - Alexander GrayAlexander GrayAir Vice Marshal Alexander Gray CB, MC, RAF was a senior Royal Air Force leader during World War II.-RAF career:...
as Blair Farrell - Joe E. BrownJoe E. Brown (comedian)Joseph Evans Brown was an American actor and comedian, remembered for his amiable screen persona, comic timing, and enormous smile. In 1902 at the age of nine, he joined a troupe of circus tumblers known as the Five Marvelous Ashtons which toured the country on both the circus and vaudeville...
as Grand Duke 'Connie' Constantine - T. Roy Barnes as Otis Hemingway Hooper
- Pert KeltonPert KeltonPert Kelton was an American vaudeville, movie, radio and television actress. She was the first actress who played Alice Kramden in The Honeymooners with Jackie Gleason and was a prominent comedic supporting film actress in the 1930s...
as Rosie, Otis' girlfriend - Ford SterlingFord SterlingFord Sterling was an American comedian and actor best known for his work with Keystone Studios. One of the 'Big 4' he was the original chief of the Keystone Cops.-Biography:...
as 'Pops' Shendorff - Maude Turner GordonMaude Turner GordonMaude Turner Gordon .She was born in Franklin, Indiana, USA and died in Los Angeles, California. She was an American actress...
as Mrs. Ten Brock - E.J. Ratcliffe as John Farquar
- Jack DuffyJack Duffy (actor)Jack Duffy was an American film actor. He appeared in 85 films between 1916 and 1937.He was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and died in Hollywood, California. His sister was actress Kate Price....
as The Old Roue - Ethel Stone as Lutie
- Nora Lane as Marcia