A Regular Trouper

Ruth Eaton -- played by Ruth Etting -- is the singer in a traveling show which includes two midgets, a leg show and her sister -- played by Wanda Perry. When Ruth's boyfriend makes a play for her sister, things don't turn out well.

Ruth Etting was a great singer who made a few tries at the movies in the 1930s. In this Vitaphone short she shows her weakness as an actress, but her strengths as a singer in two songs: a bluesy number at the beginning, accompanied by the great jazz guitarist Eddie Lang. It is performed in the style of Annette Hanshaw, with whom Lang recorded many numbers; and a torch song at the end.

Although the camera-work by E.B. DuPar and the montages are flashy, they can't disguise the tiredness of the story. However, Miss Etting's singing more than makes up for that.