Sally, Irene and Mary

1938's "Sally, Irene and Mary" joined the legion of show business musicals with impossibly gorgeous starlets trying to make it big on Broadway. Fortunately, beautiful blonde Alice Faye is the perfect headliner, adept at both song and dance, supported by the game Joan Davis, also attractive and as gifted a physical comedienne as the revered Lucille Ball. Rounding out the trio is the forgotten Marjorie Weaver, fewer opportunities to shine, given that the masculine contingent feature the vocals of Tony Martin (then recently wed to Alice Faye), the bombastic Fred Allen, delightful radio comedian who makes one lament that he hadn't given movies more of a try, and vaudeville veteran Jimmy Durante, who contributes one number toward the end to make up for a rather minor role. This author is in agreement with other reviewers in that the comedy is at a higher level than the music, and for Alice Faye fans it's less of a showcase amidst so much top caliber talent. Among the unbilled actors we can spot Lon Chaney at the 11 minute mark, as a policeman using his club to knock out a ranting Gregory Ratoff, who at least settles down after such an impetuous introduction. Chaney, with one line of dialogue, would also do a bit in Alice's next feature, the immensely popular "Alexander's Ragtime Band," nearing the end of his forgettable two years under contract with 20th Century-Fox, 30 titles going virtually unnoticed (1939's "Of Mice and Men" would of course change all that, coupled with "The Wolf Man" at Universal in 1941).

In her loan out film to Paramount Alice Faye was part of a trio that included Frances Langford and Patsy Kelly. Obviously Darryl Zanuck liked what was done with his number one female star because he cast her again as part of a trio of hopefuls in Sally, Irene, and Mary.

Faye was Sally and the other two were Joan Davis as Irene and Marjorie Weaver as Mary. They're doing time as manicurists hoping to get that elusive big break. They've got a manager in Fred Allen who's playing a couple of angles to get them that, some of them not too ethical.

At a supper club where he's gotten them work as cigarette girls, Allen hears Tony Martin, but also there who hears him is rich divorcée Louise Hovick, better known later on as Gypsy Rose Lee. Allen knew her back when and gets her to back a show with Martin and the girls.

In the meantime Alice is being pursued by a panting Gregory Ratoff, another millionaire. So she and Tony essentially sell themselves in order to get a nightclub open on an old steamboat that Weaver inherits.

It's a nice backstage musical and Alice and Tony who were married at the time are in fine voice. Darryl Zanuck paid two teams of songwriters for the score, Walter Bullock and Jack Spina, and Mack Gordon and Harry Revel who were Faye's regular writers.

Jimmy Durante is in this one too in a small supporting role that I don't think fully utilized his unique talents.

What I liked about the film most was the interesting way both Faye and Martin got out of their obligations to their devoted admirers and be united with each other which of course you knew would happen. But in Sally, Irene, and Mary it's all in the how.

Best song for Tony is Sweeter Than A Song and Alice has a good number in This Is Where I Came In. And the finale at the nightclub has a good trio number Who Stole The Jam.

Another good one for Alice Faye and Tony Martin got a big boost in his career from this film. A nice bit of viewing.

Pleasant musical comedy with a good cast and little plot stars Alice Faye, Joan Davis, and Marjroie Weaver as star-struck gals in New York trying to break into show biz. They have a no-good manager (Fred Allen) and some admirers (Gregory Ratoff, Gypsy Rose Lee, Tony Martin) as well as Jimmy Durante--for extra measure. Some funny if unmemorable songs include Faye's "Who Stole the Jam" and Durante's "Hot Potata." Snappy and fast paced but not very original. Davis and Allen and are always good.

Eddie Collins is funny as the captain. Mary Treen, Andrew Tombes, Charles Wilson, Lon Chaney, Jr. (as a cop), and the Brian Sisters co-star.

'Sally, Irene and Mary' had a good deal going for it and delivers a good deal too. It's no classic, but it's a long way from a stinker and the entertainment value is non-stop.

It's less than flawless by all means. Most of the cast are very good indeed, but Marjorie Weaver doesn't have an awful lot to do, with her material not being as juicy as Alice Faye and Joan Davis and not as memorable, and despite singing gloriously Tony Martin is stiff and quite mannered acting-wise. While there is more of a plot than most film musicals from this period and it's action-packed and entertaining, the complications are endless and dizzying that it actually feels too busy and complicated.

The songs are pleasant enough and well sung, but other than the amusing "Who Stole the Jam" which is also the most inventively staged (the others being fun and efficient but without much imagination), they are somewhat forgettable.

However, much of the cast is splendid, with a charming Alice Faye, a feisty Joan Davis, Jimmy Durante providing fun slapstick support in a small role and Fred Allen, Gypsy Rose Lee, Eddie Collins and Gregory Ratoff being particularly entertaining in support, Barnett Parker delights too as does Mary Treen.

Comedy sparkles with energy and wit, and the energy and fun is non-stop. The film also looks great, beautifully shot and colourful, and it's solidly directed too.

On the whole, not flawless but jam-packed in the entertainment stakes, and the cast and the comedy make it worthwhile and more than make up for the musical numbers lacking a little. 7/10 Bethany Cox

I purchased this DVD just so I can look at Marjorie Weaver. In addition to Marjorie, I was surprised to discover A WONDERFUL MOVIE. Good cast, songs and gags...The lovely Alice Faye and Tony Martin who I didn't know are husband and wife. Manicurists Sally, Irene and Mary hope to be Broadway entertainers. When Mary inherits an old ferry boat, they turn it into a successful supper club. The scenes with Jimmy Durante were hilarious.

The Brian Sisters appear in a song & dance scene in Sally Irene and Mary, singing "Who Stole The Jam" and complementing the three adults, Alice Faye (Sally), Joan Davis (Irene) and Marjorie Weaver (Mary). Betty was 14, Doris 11 and Gwen 9. This is a really good scene, in which the Brian Sisters bring much more than just 'kiddie appeal' to the film. Their singing is just right; they are certainly no less professional than the three adults. After singing they all dance - we don't normally see the Brian Sisters dancing and they do it very well. The girls were taught the dance moves by Nick Castle, the choreographer on this film and Little Miss Broadway, who was patient with the girls and pleased with their accomplishment in such a short time. The Brian Sisters readily learned the steps for their dance and the entire sequence was completed IN ONE DAY. The 'Who Stole The Jam?' routine, near the finale, is cute and sweet, with the three little Brian sisters stealing your heart away. They have something different.

Getting back to my favorite, Marjorie Weaver. She's a "dead ringer" for my wife when they were the same age. Marjorie has something else going for her, a sweet, cute, and adorable Kentucky accent. There's something about that accent that makes men melt. I tried to buy every movie that Marjorie Weaver is in, sadly many are lost. My favorite movie of hers that I highly recommend is 1938 "I'll Give a Million".

Marjorie Weaver personal quote: "I had a fantastic career for a girl with no talent. I couldn't sing, I couldn't dance, but I did both. It was wonderful -- nothing pressing, nothing urgent, just fun."

The ONLY negative about my purchase of this DVD is that it comes on a purple burned disc. (There's nothing wrong with a burned disc IF it's a long lasting M-Disc, Silver.) A pressed disc, or M-Disc last much longer. I am very happy to have this wonderful movie in my 3000 DVD/Blu-ray collection.