The Singing Marine

Busby Berkeley directed the musical sequences for this 1937 film, The Singing Marine.

Dick Powell stars as Bob Brent, a marine, originally from Arkansas, who happens to have a beautiful tenor voice. Though a little shy, he goes to New York to enter an amateur singing contest. He's encouraged by his fellow Marines, who are cheering him on as they listen to him on the radio. Bob makes friends with a young woman, Peggy (Doris Weston) he meets on the bus who is also going to compete.

Bob sings 'Cause My Baby Says It's So in the contest and is a smash hit, signed to a contract immediately. Though Peggy was too nervous to finish the audition, Bob hires her as his assistant.

When his outfit is ordered to Shanghai, one of his agents (Hugh Herbert) decides to buy Bob out of the Marines. Uh, no go. His friends in the corps turn against him when they see how fat-headed he's become.

This is a fun musical, and Dick Powell's voice was so lyrical and beautiful, I could listen to him all day. He had such an amazing career as well.

If you can ever get your hands on any of the Dick Powell Theatre from television, do so. There were some wonderful episodes. Powell excelled as a singer, an actor, and producer, and was obviously an excellent businessman.

He is also responsible for one of my favorite celebrity comments of all time: When offered the part of Richard Diamond in the TV series that ultimately starred David Janssen, Powell thought about it and finally told the producer, "No, I can't hold my stomach in for 28 weeks."

Also appearing in this film are Allen Jenkins and, in small roles, Jane Wyman and Veta Ann Borg.

By 1937 Dick Powell was acutely aware of his dwindling prospects as a crooner. Unfortunately, The Singing Marine is a textbook example of just the type of film he was aching to distance himself from--- something that wouldn't happen until his move to Paramount in 1942. This over long musical comedy co-stars newcomer Doris Weston (imagine Sonja Henie without the skates or accent); she's cute but the 19-year old fails to make a memorable impression. Her career spanned less than 3 years and 6 features, 2 shorts and a serial between Warner's and the financially wobbly "New" Universal Pictures. Sadly, she'd die of cancer in her early 40's.

The Singing Marine was one of Warner's 'A' pictures for 1937. It features the backbone of the studio's stock character troupe: Allen Jenkins, Addison Richards, goofy Hugh Herbert, Guinn Williams... but look for harmonica maestro Larry Adler doing his thing (Chinese Larry? I think HUAC might've even used that one against you too) in the Shanghai finale and keep your eyes peeled for Ward Bond in one of his don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-me-keeping-the-groceries-coming-in walk-on's he did throughout the 1930's.

I find myself looking at any pre-WW2 film with military elements as a Japanese spy. To this day I'm convinced one of the reasons we were attacked is Lou Costello in "Buck Privates." The Singing Marine certainly did us no favors with the mentality that a USMC enlistment could be bought off, or perhaps it was the corps' apparent fondness for wienie roasts. See this for Adler's haunting harmonica rift... but be prepared to walk away wondering why 20-minutes weren't left on the cutting room floor.

The Singing Marine is really a way to exploit Dick Powell's wonderful tenor voice, and it does well at doing so. Powell's singing could win over any woman which is perhaps the reason no other well-known stars are in the cast.

The film is about a marine from Arkansas whose shy demeanor melts away when he sings. He wins over a fellow singer (Doris Weston) and is convinced by his friends to enter an amateur contest in New York. When he goes, he become a sensation and is signed as "The Singing Marine." In a very short time he makes tens of thousands of dollars but has to manage his singing career alongside his career in the military.

Busby Berkeley directed the musical sequences in this film, but aside from a couple of beautiful girls, one probably wouldn't guess that he was involved. The numbers are more general in their presentation, but they are still fun. Powell's simple "Cause My Baby Says Its So" doesn't get much staging, but the other songs include elaborate tap routines and set changes.

The Singing Marine is great example of the 30's musicals. I enjoyed the music and songs. Dick Powell is in great form as the singing marine. One goof is the radio call letters was KRWB, but is in New York. It should start with W. The songs is enjoyable to listen to and keeps in your head. I rate the movie a 7 out of 10. The plot of the movie is silly in today's themes but it does add a change of basis. We could use more of this type of movies today. I like the songs of the 30's and 40's. You could understands the songs. Again, great songs and a enjoyable movie. It should be shown on TV more often. We need more of this type of songs again.

In San Diego, Bob Brent (Dick Powell) is a shy singing Marine who has a crush on shop girl Peggy Randall (Doris Weston). He is barely able to ask her out to a weenie roast with his marine friends. The other marines want his guitar and singing to entertain their dates. The boys send the shy singer to New York City for a radio program contest.

This has two musical sequences directed by Busby Berkeley. The first one has a lot of reverse filming which is obvious to me although maybe not to the 30's audience. That does take me out of it. The last dance is a lot men in uniform. It may be patriotic but I prefer the babes. Dick Powell is playing the clean cut singer type. He's very straight and a little stiff. He needs more Peggy time. The couple has a cute start. I expected a traditional love triangle movie. I even had a scheming diva in mind. She would lie to Peggy and drive her away. I did not expect Shanghai. That section has some good but never fully exploited. It's all a bit disappointing especially the cute romance going flat.