Melody in Spring

Charlie Ruggles stars as a loony businessman (dog biscuits) who has a wife, a daughter, and a radio program he sponsors. Lanny Ross plays a singer who tries to meet Ruggles so he can audition as a singer. He meets the daughter (Ann Sothern) and falls for her. But Ruggles refuses to hire him as a singer and doesn't want him as a son-in-law.

They all end up in the Swiss Alps where Ruggles gives in to his compulsion to "collect" souvenirs. He tries to steal the silver cow bells from an Alpine herd but gets caught. Meanwhile, his dim wife (Mary Boland) sets about to frame Ross so that Sothern will go back to her snooty boyfriend.

Ross sings a few forgettable songs (Sothern doesn't get to sing anything) but Ruggles and Boland steal the show with their terrific chemistry and loopy characters. Herman Bing plays the hotelier, Norma MItchell plays the matron, and the triplets are played by the Gale Sisters (twins and a third sister), one of whom later married Oscar Levant.

I bought this film because i thought that the pairing of Charles Ruggles and Mary Boland would be irresistibly funny.How wrong could i be.This is a tepid lacklustre affair with very little going for it.The main joke so far as Charles Ruggles character is concerned is that he collects bedposts of famous figures.When he goes on holiday to Switzerland he collects cowbells.In the leading role is Lannie Ross.I had never heard of him before which is not surprising on the basis of his performance in this film.Obviously the bosses at Paramount must have thought the same as there are not many credits to his name in the IMB biography.It is of interest to see Ann Southern early in her career.There are some musical numbers which are fairly unmemorable although the number at the finale is reasonably well staged and at least means the film ends on a relatively high note.

Although Paramount had Bing Crosby, Lanny Ross was signed as a backup. When Bing refused to do a cameo in "Alice in Wonderland" (very sensibly as it turned out - the film was a huge flop) the studio was furious and signed Lanny Ross, a radio singer. He got a big buildup and was cast in "College Rhythm", a college musical that also starred Lyda Roberti. Sadly, he only made a couple of films - Paramount obviously decided that Crosby was all they needed. His voice was different to Crosby's, being more of an operatic tenor. Certainly Ross was very wooden in this film (although it was his first feature) and didn't have much personality but the songs spoke for themselves.

Ray Noble's Orchestra with singer Al Bowley, had a huge hit with the film's opening song "Ending With a Kiss". Ross serenades Ann Sothern in the first scene in this very tedious film. Ann Sothern was a real find. She had appeared as a chorus girl in a couple of early musicals but this was the first as a leading lady. She gave the part a lot of personality and it was obvious she would go on to better things.

The real stars were Charlie Ruggles and Mary Boland as husband and wife sponsors of a radio programme - he has an "interesting" hobby - he collects bedknobs!!! Lanny Ross plays John who wants to sing on their show and so sings to them whenever he sees them. To make him even more irritating to them he also falls in love with Jane, their daughter (Ann Sothern). This plot premise must have been worn out even in 1934 and made the film seem longer than it was but Ross got to serenade Sothern with two beautiful songs - "Ending With a Kiss" and the beautiful "Melody in Spring", sung as they wander through the Swiss countryside.

The Gale Sisters also make an appearance as a snooty matron's very modern daughters.

Recommended for the songs.

Every now and then, one comes across an unknown or unheard-of film that is a real gem. This 1934 Paramount picture, "Melody in Spring" clearly is such a gem. Although billed as a musical, it is without question a comedy first and foremost.

Lanny Ross and Ann Sothern are fairly new to film, as John Craddock and Jane Blodgett. Sothern had been uncredited in most of her 10 films before this, and this was her first significant role. Ross had been in just three shorts before this, but has the male lead and major role in this film. Paramount gave them some tremendous support in two seasoned and prolific performers - Charles Ruggles and Mary Boland as husband and wife - Warren and Mary Blodgett, parents of Jane. Both had solid careers in silent films that carried over into the sound age. They were especially good in comedy.

And one thing that may have held this film back with audiences was its billing as a musical. It is clearly a comedy first and foremost. It does have music, all in singing, and it's a major departure from the standard form of musicals to that time. In a way, it's a peek at the form that the latter great musicals of the mid-20th century would take. Instead of the revue format, in which a variety of music and dance numbers are featured, with a loose plot that ties them together, the musical plays that became great hits were regular stories that had the characters singing and dancing in parts of the story.

This movie has no staged song and dance numbers. There are no dance numbers at all. The music in this film is all singing. Ross has a superb tenor voice, and some of his numbers or parts are a cappella, with little or no musical accompaniment. There are two songs with choruses. One is the Swiss Milking Song and the other is a bouncy tune that Ross leads jail inmates and guards in singing.

One wonders why Ross didn't stay in Hollywood, but he made only four more films after this one. He was actually trained in the law profession but gave it up to pursue a singing career in 1929. He was very popular on radio. He sang for numerous programs and had his own show for years on CBS. An interesting tidbit about Ross was his high school years where he excelled in track sports, and then his years at Yale University where he was one of the nation's top athletes in track and field and where he also was a soloist with the Yale Glee Club.

Ross's Craddock is a very likable and outgoing person in "Melody in Spring." He and Sothern have very good chemistry in this film, and Sothern is superb in her smiling and doting demeanor and looks in the scenes when Ross sings to her.

But, now for the comedy. Warren Blodgett is an irascible, eccentric millionaire who is something of a kleptomaniac. He doesn't consider it stealing but "collecting" to take bed knobs, signs, or any other items for his collection. He has bed knobs from sleeping places visited by George Washington, Queen Elizabeth and others. He seems to spend more time and energy adding to his collection, which he proudly labels and displays around his home, than he does in his business. But then, he apparently is the dogfood king, whose name is on every dog biscuit and "puppy pretzel."

In one scene, Warren Blodgett is listening to the hour-long radio show his company sponsors. At commercial time, the announcer says, "Do other dogs avoid your dog? Is your dog a social failure? Then, buy Blodget Puppy Pretzels, and buy them now."

The story is quite wacky, with Jane's parents not caring for Craddock after an altercation with him early in the film. He and Jane first meet in a small town where the George Washington Inn of 1770 is located. Then, they meet again when he shows up at the Blodgett's, trying to land a job singing on the Blodgett radio hour. The story moves back and forth between John and Jane together, and Warren trying to snitch souvenirs, with Mary constantly on his trail. The story takes them across the pond to Paris and then to Switzerland. The Paramount sets were very good, especially those of the Swiss village, countryside and scenery. Of course, the places, town and mountains are fictitious Alpine names.

This is one very funny, somewhat wacky, and entertaining film, with some very good singing. Apparently, this was a box office disappointment to Paramount. But it won't be a disappointment to anyone today who enjoys good comedy and entertainment. I highly recommend "Melody in Spring" for many good laughs. Here are some sample lines.

Blonde in Washington's bed, "Well, if you woke up in the middle of the night and saw a man with a look in his eye, what would you do?" Warren Blodgett, "It's a lie. There was nothing in my eye."

Warren Blodgett, "The best hotel is Die Lustigen Glocken. The picturesque Swiss inn is famous the world over for its herd of Algauers. Mary, are you listening?" Mary Blodgett, "Yes, dear. I heard every word you said. You were talking about the Algauers." Warren, "Right!" Mary, "I remember them very well - charming people. We met them last year in Nice, wasn't it?" Warren, "They are cows." Mary, "Why, Warren, they're very nice people." Warren, "It's a breed." Mary, "Oh, you mean it's breeding." Warren, "I mean Algauers are cows." Mary, "Why Warren, I didn't know you disliked them so much." Warren, "The Swiss Algauers are cows" Mary, "Oh, well, they're probably not related at all."