sixbadapes

Another reviewer asked what the pop group Spanky & Our Gang could have added to the film. I was in the film and can answer that. Their presence was much like Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye's in "Cat Ballou". They bridged the action with song, and served as sort of a chorus for the fairy tale. The year after we filmed this, they made their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show and their career took off. Someplace this film is sitting in a can on a shelf. Both the producer, Jeff Gillen, and the director, Bob Clark, have passed on, and it was my understanding that it had been sold years before to Hal Roach Studios -- and I hadn't even known they were still in existence.

This sad little film bears little similarity to the 1971 Broadway revival that was such a 'nostalgic' hit. Keep in mind that when Burt Shevelove directed that revival, he rewrote the book extensively. I have a feeling that this screenwriter wrought as much of a change from the original 1925 version as well. I played the 'innocent philanderer' Jimmy Smith on-stage in 1974, and thought this $1 DVD would bring back memories. Not a chance. Even the anticipated delight of seeing "Topper" Roland Young play 'my' part was a major disappointment. Three songs from the play remain, and are done very poorly. Even the classic duet, "Tea For Two", is done as a virtual solo. The many familiar faces in this 1940 fiasco do not do themselves proud at all, and the star, Anna Neagle, just embarrasses herself. When I feel gypped by spending a dollar, I know the film must be bad. Another commentator mentioned the Doris Day version, which is actually called "Tea For Two" and is about doing the stage play (the original, of course), so those who are seeking the true "No No Nanette" might find a more recognizable version there.

Oh, the above comment is all too accurate! I wasted a whole dollar on this DVD because I thought it actually featured John Carradine, whom I worked with back in '66. Not only are all the selected 'archive' films dogs in themselves, but the bridging material is steaming dog crap. This must have been some locally produced TV show (or maybe unproduced!) that they strung together for this ill-begotten feature. The one main character in the new material, some dame named Hecate, can't decide which eye her eye-patch is supposed to cover! Oh, well, at least this dollar DVD has another film on it: Tommy Lee Jones in "Eliza's Horoscope"... Augggggh!