Dance Charlie Dance

From 1928 through 1953 Warner Brothers made four or five versions of Kaufman & Hart's THE BUTTER AND EGG MAN. Mel Brooks used its basic format, of crooked Broadway producers in the business of making flops, for THE PRODUCERS. It's a great story and a great farce, but the three versions that Warners made in the 1930s are B versions and the best version is AN ANGEL FROM Texas, with a snappy performance by Ronald Reagan, of all people.

This one is competently performed, but it stars Stu Erwin as the yokel who makes good. His put upon nebbish is not one of my preferred comedy roles. Alan Jenkins tries hard, but his role as the swindling producer doesn't suit him and the usually delightful Glenda Farrel is wasted. Her specialty was a motormouth, just made for Warner Bs, but she has few lines and plenty of time to say them in.

It's a good production, but there are betters. Take a look at the others.