Ready, Willing and Able

Lee Dixon and Ross Alexander are minor actors in the history of Hollywood and here they both star as two struggling guys trying to peddle their musical show. But when you read their back story on IMDb, they are a very sad couple of guys. Before this film even debuted, Alexander (Barry) was dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound (he was 29)! And, less than a decade later, Dixon (Pinky) would be dead...a guy who drank himself to death at age 42! Talk about tragic! Fortunately, their co-star, Ruby Keeler, had a much happier life!

When the film begins, Pinky and Barry are both struggling to market their new show. Fortunately, they just found a backer--and in order to get this backing they need to sign a British actress. When they go to meet her, the duo make a mistake and accidentally hire an unknown chorus girl (Ruby Keeler) with the same name. She's excited about the opportunity and so she keeps quiet and just accepts the offer. Unfortunately, when folks learn the truth, the show closes. What's next? See the film.

What follows at the end of the movie are a whole bunch of production numbers. Some are a bit dull, though the typewriter sequence is pretty amazing to watch. Overall, a passable bit of entertainment...but not much more. The songs aren't all that memorable and the plot is slight to say the least. The film could have used a bit more comedy to lighten the mood.

As people have already noted, 'Ready, Willing and Able' is notable for being Ross Alexander's swansong before his tragic suicide and Ruby Keeler's last film for Warner Bros, but they certainly aren't the only notable factors of the film.

'Ready, Willing and Able' is not a great film, but it does have enough to make it watchable. Keeler is a very charming screen presence, and Alexander a likable leading man. Most of the supporting cast also fare well, with the hoots that are Allen Jenkins and Louisa Fazenda faring best. Wini Shaw is also very winning, as is Jane Wyman.

Of the song score, only one is really outstanding. That is the sublime "Too Marvellous for Words", though "Be Handy on Your Feet" is also catchy and "Just a Quiet Evening" very listenable. Don't remember much of the rest though. The classical music selections of Schumann, Chopin and Liszt are also a delight.

The film looks pretty good, apart from the odd tacky moment, it is very skilfully photographed and while not exactly expansive the set is generally a long way from cheap.

Conversely, to me Lee Dixon was wooden in acting and even more so in his dancing, which doesn't look natural or rhythmic at all. There is a lack of chemistry between Keeler and Dixon, though occasionally a sweet one with Alexander, just that one does miss Dick Powell (who one can't help thinking that he would have been a better choice). The story, even for a film musical, is overly simplistic, goes overboard with the silliness and dumbness and is as thin as thin ice.

Even flimsier is the hugely underwritten and dull script, that's far too lightweight. Of the choreography and dancing, the only one that stands out is the clever type-writing sequence. The others are pedestrian and under-cooked, am aware that one shouldn't expect Busby Bekeley to be involved in every film musical around this time but the songs generally did deserve better treatment than the indifference they were given here, this was a film that cried out for his involvement really.

All in all, watchable but not great. 5/10 Bethany Cox

Musical play writers Ross Alexander (as Barry Granville) and Lee Dixon (as Pinky Blair) work out a song and dance while their pants are being pressed. Playing modest for the movie studio, both Mr. Alexander and Mr. Dixon prefer boxers to briefs. The enthusiastic duo may have a tuneful Broadway hit on their hands. A backer mandates they hire an English actress to star, and agent Allen Jenkins (as J. Van Courtland) goes to pick her up. But Mr. Jenkins accidentally signs similarly named Ruby Keeler (as Jane Clarke), putting the show in jeopardy - she's no actress, but is she "Ready, Willing and Able"?

This was, most notably, the last film appearance for Ross Alexander, who ended his life with a suicide...

In what looks like a marketing decision, Warner Bros. likely switched Alexander's billing with Dixon's (he would have his most memorable success on Broadway with "Okalahoma!" before succumbing to alcoholism). Despite the sadness, the show goes on with the happy-go-lucky duo playing well together. Alexander's best moment is emotionally introducing "Too Marvelous for Words" to Ms. Keeler; she and Dixon have a memorable dancing sequence, showcasing the #1 hit show-stopper. Also, there are appearances by past favorite Louise Fazenda (as Clara) and future favorite Jane Wyman (as Dot).

***** Ready, Willing and Able (3/6/37) Ray Enright ~ Ruby Keeler, Ross Alexander, Lee Dixon, Allen Jenkins

Ross Alexander was one of those unfortunates of life. He was good at the acting business and was given roles that would normally had gone to Dick Powell if he wasn't so busy. The trouble was that he was gay, and because of that in the 1930's, he took to the drink. He made "Ready and Willing" with Ruby Keeler in 1937 and then shot himself. His last picture doesn't stand out all that much as the story of "putting on a show" seemed to be a continuing serial throughout the '30's - but, he is quite good in it and delivers the main song "Too Marvelous for Words" first as a recitation and then in song - a couple of times - and his warbling is quite pleasing. Even though he was the leading man in this picture you can tell what the Warner Bros thought of him as his name is fifth on the list.

Ruby Keeler comes in as the love interest although that isn't clear at the start. She doesn't get to do all that much in the way of dancing about as in this picture as she is there for her acting ability. The plot maneuvers itself all over the place - there is mistaken identity, the putting on of a show, ineffectual fiancés, old ham actresses, actresses coming over from England, movie moguls, lyricists continually writing songs, Italians getting bamboozled and threatening landladies. Still, all this allows us to enjoy a few assorted character actors. Why there is even a short outing for two vaudevillians - Shaw and Lee in amongst E. E. Clive as a dimwitted Knight of the Realm, Barnett Parker as the quintessential English waiter, May Boley as the requisite fat landlady, the Romanian Adrian Rosley imitating Henry Armetta's typical Italian, Louise Fazenda as a ham actress who gets her Shakespeare all mixed up and Hugh O'Connell as whatever it is he is supposed to be. Without these characters doing their stuff the picture would have fallen quite flat.

As Ruby Keeler wasn't asked to sing, we are entreated to Wini Shaw coming in and doing that for her by way of a twist in the plot. She doesn't have all that much to do but her singing voice is a welcome addition. Also in lead roles we have Allen Jenkins as a theatrical agent, lowering the tone as per usual, Carol Hughes as Ruby Keeler's friend and Lee Dixon as Ross Alexander's theatrical partner. Also showing up briefly is Jane Wyman.

They don't make pictures like this anymore because everybody has now become too sophisticated and serious. Such a pity because it is pictures like these which are total frothy nonsense that I find highly entertaining and marvelous for taking one's mind away from the awful goings on in the world. It's fun and it's quite obvious from the finished product that everyone was having a rollicking good time making it.

This movie is very nice. Not a must see but worth seeing. Ruby Keeler is always fun and pretty to watch. She dances fine in the movie. Carol Hughes is beautiful. Wini Shaw is an excellent singer and very beautiful. But she sounds a lot like Helen Morgan which is something that might of stopped her from gaining more fame. Ross Alexander is attractive and has a nice voice but he's no Dick Powell which stopped him from gaining fame at Warner Bros. Louise Fazenda is funny as usual. Anyone who criticizes Ruby's dancing, should see this movie, she dances quite well in "Handy with your feet" number. She acts fine and naturally as a girl in her position would.