Cheer Up!

Stanley Lupino and Roddy uighes have written a musical play, been thrown out of every theatrical office in the city and are stone cold broke. Sally Gray -- whose character's name is Sally Gray -- can't even get an audition and is likewise stony. So is the kindly couple who take her in. Fortunately, she comes up with the idea of turning their home into a hotel. When she is at another hotel talking it up for prospective guests, she is accosted, and is rescued by Lupino. This causes an agent to look her up and offer to bankroll her until she has a paying career; the report is that Kenneth Kove, the son of the biggest backer of plays rescued her. When she runs into Lupino, she thinks he's Kove and he thinks she's the answer to his dreams in every way.

It's a typically silly mistaken-identity plot, but that's not the point of the movie. Lupino's physical-comedy antics are kept under control, and are very funny in moderate doses, when not performed as if he's done this one a hundred times in the West End and a couple of thousand in the provinces. Miss Gray is fresh-faced and lovely and gets a solo dance number, with lots of high kicks and a splendid set. Even the minor players get their chances to shine at least briefly. There's little in this musical comedy that's new and startling (except for Miss Gray's shiny dress!), but it's all put together well and will keep you entertained for the hour or so of the show.

It's the depths of the Great Depression, and everyone in this film is either very poor or very rich (except for the couple who used to be very rich and are now very poor). A playwright and a songwriter are trying to sell their show; an attractive young woman is trying to get an acting job. A misunderstanding brings them together. The humor is very fast, if not very funny. Most of the songs in this musical show up in the second half; the title song is catchy, and the finale is energetic, if bizarre, but the rest of the music is forgettable. Star/writer/producer Stanley Lupino (father of Ida) is a decent broad comedian, but not much of a singer or a dancer. Sally Gray, who became a big star later in her career, had great legs and a serviceable voice but, at this stage of her career anyway, wasn't much of an actress. I'd recommend the last big dance number, which seems to sweep through most of London - it's very surreal and very entertaining.

It is a sad fact that whilst many Hollywood stars and films of the thirties are still vividly recalled and their memories cherished their English counterparts languish in the vaults.This is one such.Stanley Lupino is probably only remembered as the father of Ida.However he was as they say a star of stage screen and radio.This is a truly delightful film which is as bright and entertaining as the time that it was released.The musical numbers are very catchy and well staged.It all moves along at a fair pace and is over all too soon.It was shown on Channel 4 about 15 years ago when i managed to catch it,so i suppose that i am one of the few people to have seen it.If you do get the chance watch it and you will see what i mean.

This dismal, unfunny British musical "comedy" did not manage to cheer me up in the slightest.

In fact, when I started watching it, I was in a much better frame of mind than when it ended. None of the so-called comedy, forced as it was, even elicited a smile from me.

The plot was totally cheerless – about show people who, down on their luck, did just about any ducking and diving that they could think of to avoid paying for rent, meals or anything else – attempting (and sometimes succeeding) to cheat others out of their money.

The film may have ended slightly better, by which time their fortunes were turned around, could have attempted to remunerate all those from whom they had cheated. At least that would have left me with a better taste in my mouth.

The acting, singing, dancing and choreography were third rate. I am not familiar with any of the untalented film cast, and when Sally Gray, who - I read in her biography - was to become famous later, ever thought of this film, she would most decidedly have cringed with embarrassment.

I can think of no reason whatsoever to recommend it.

It'd be better to search for "This'll Make You Whistle", with Jack Buchanan and Elsie Randolph, which was released in the same year, and would really cheer anyone up.