The Devil Sea

Had this musical short with Ethel Merman been made in the 1920s, I would have appreciated it much more. After all, through much of the decade, well before the debut of "The Jazz Singer", Vitaphone was experimenting with sound and made a bunch of similar films. They were similar in that they used simple sets, had little (if any) plot and the sound quality was generally tinny and cheap. But by 1931, sound was well established in Hollywood and musicals were common...and well made. But, oddly, "Devil Sea" was NOT well made and is nearly unwatchable today...and makes you think Merman could barely sing, though she had a strong voice. Probably not worth your time unless you are really curious.

Ethel Merman who was one of the biggest stars Broadway ever knew never quite made it in films. Only two of her Broadway roles were done by her on film Anything Goes and Call Me Madam. This short, The Devil Sea was apparently made by her at Paramount's Astoria studio while she was on Broadway with Girl Crazy. That was her breakout show and the one where she introduced I've Got Rhythm.

The title song and the other number she sings Glory Glory aren't anything like what George and Ira Gershwin were giving her and the rest of the Girl Crazy cast to sing on Broadway, but they do fit Merman's bravura style. The Devil Sea in fact is generations ahead of its time because it plays like a current video type number that performers do today.

A must for the fans of Ethel Merman.