L'alfabeto dell'amore

Professor Donald Hardwick (Dick Powell) only teaches about "serious music" even though his students are crazy for swing. While in New York he decides to stop by and see his aunt Martha (Helen Broderick) even though his other three aunts are outraged by the idea because years ago, when young, she eloped with a saxophone player. They consider this to be a scandal.

While visiting, Hardwick visits a music publisher and plays one of the songs he has written, which the publisher buys. Bu Hardwick is horrified when he hears his song as it has been reworked by the publisher into "Hooray for Spinach!" as a popular rather than classical song. This gets Hardwicke caught up in the music publishing industry with people who are shrewder than he and ultimately ends up in court with Hardwick falsely accused of plagiarizing the music of an early 20th century composer.

This was passable entertainment, and not as inane as most production code B comedy films from Warner Brothers in the 1930s. On the plus side, you have veteran comedienne Zasu Pitts as one of Dick Powell's aunts and Ann Sheridan as a conniving chanteuse early in her career. Because it IS early in her career, Gale Page is the love interest for Powell's character in this one, and unfortunately she just doesn't leave much of an impression. Allen Jenkins, usually a sign that a low-brow extravaganza is going to ensue, doesn't do that much damage here but instead does something that makes his character out to be not only an ignoramus, but a real heel to boot. And what's worse the plot has him paying no price for his behavior. I'm being intentionally vague here.

Dick Powell started his film career in 1932 with the WB hit "Blessed Event" where he played radio star Bunny Harmon as a practically mute character other than for his singing. All through his seven years at Warner Brothers, the studio leaned in on Powell's singing ability and put him in light musical properties. This, his last film at Warner Brothers, was no exception and caused him to leave the studio in search of more serious roles that he probably correctly assumed that he would never get at WB.

I don't place comments on most of the movies I watch (and I am a major film buff, particularly the classics of the late 30's, 40's and 50's, but I felt it necessary here as most of the comments are based on viewers with a Dick Powell focus. Powell's heyday was a little prior the timeframe of my expertise so I am not commenting upon those comments, however, Ann Sheridan is one of the most underrated actresses in film and she is outstanding in this, not to mention gorgeous. The movie is more entertaining than Powell's fans have let on with the final third of the movie quite entertaining for anyone. The increasing frustration of Powell's collegiate colleagues culminating in breaking a tree limb is well done. The scene prior to the court trial with Sheridan slapping everyone repeatedly in the producer's office is outstanding and a "must see" for film fans.

Stuffy music professor (Dick Powell) hates popular swing music but the only person interested in the rhapsody he's written is a pop music lyricist (Gale Page). She puts words to his music and turns it into a big hit with the swing crowd. The duo are very successful until a sexy singer (Ann Sheridan) tries to lure the professor astray.

Nice comedy with a good cast. Powell does fine but, despite the plot involving music, he never sings. He does learn what the A, B, and C types of love are from Gale Page and Ann Sheridan. Page is wonderful. She has a genial charm about her that is a joy to watch. Sheridan is sexy and, well, full of oomph! A very fun supporting cast with the likes of ZaSu Pitts, Maxie Rosenbloom, Allen Jenkins, and Vera Lewis. Granville Bates has a funny role as a judge. Songs are nothing special but the humor and likable cast helps.

NAUGHTY BUT NICE (Warner Brothers, 1939), directed by Ray Enright, began production in the summer of 1938, and was withheld theatrical release for almost a year, and it's easy to see why. The finished product, unfortunately, is a disappointment. Dick Powell, whose long and successful career in musical films at Warners since 1933, has come to a rather tepid end. Taking second billing to Ann Sheridan, who was being groomed to stardom by the studio, Powell sings no major hit tunes, and is transformed from a baby-faced crooner to a mature but dull college professor of classical music who wears glasses and quite naive of the outside world, a role more suitable to the likes and comedy antics of possibly Eddie Cantor. Of the supporting players, Gale Page, whose movie career was short-lived, comes off best as the nice girl who guides the professor along.

As for the plot, Professor Donald Hardwick (Dick Powell) of Winfield College, comes to New York City on a mission of getting his symphonic composition published. While there, he stays with his maiden Aunt Martha (Helen Broderick) who manages a speakeasy. Donald then meets Linda McKay (Gale Page) and Ed Clarke (Ronald Reagan), who mistake Donald for a waiter. After becoming acquainted, Linda, a songwriter, takes Donald's classical compositions and changes it into swing music without his knowledge. Upon his return to Winfield, Donald learns of the radio air-date as to when his composition is to be played so he and his college dean (Halliwell Hobbes), along with Professor Trill (Edward McWade) can join in and listen. Donald gets the shock of his life when he finds his composition changed to a jive number retitled "Hooray for Spinach" as sung by vocalist Zelda Manion (Ann Sheridan). The disgrace finds Donald returning to New York to straighten out matters, only to be further tricked into having his compositions changed into top pop tunes that make it to Number One on the Hit Parade, which eventually leads to a courtroom case.

With music and lyrics by Harry Warren and Jerry Mercer, with acknowledgments to classical composers Richard Wagner, Johannes Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Lizst, the songs featured include: "Remember Dad" (sung by Jerry Colonna and Allen Jenkins); "Hooray for Spinach" (sung by Ann Sheridan); "I'm Happy About the Whole Thing" (sung by Dick Powell and Gale Page); "In a Moment of Weakness" (sung by Gale Page); "Corn Pickin'" (sung by Ann Sheridan/ jitterbug dancing by patrons); and "I Don't Believe in Signs" (sung by Ann Sheridan). Only "Hooray for Spinach" would be a tune more to the liking of the famous cartoon character of Popeye.

Other than the use of six forgettable songs based on classical compositions, NAUGHTY BUT NICE finds Powell in numerous comedic situations, such as being served an alcoholic beverage instead of his usual lemonade which gets him so drunk that he shouts out, "YA-HOO," only to get photographed by news-hounds and picture being placed on the front page of every newspaper showing Donald swinging from a chandelier; Powell getting a "hot foot" (lighted matches stuck on his shoes) by Joe Dirke (Allen Jenkins), which causes the naive professor to take hold of his foot and jump up and down as he moans, causing the night club patrons to do the same, thus, the creation of a new type of dancing, a jitterbug number called "Corn Pickin'"; Donald getting vamped by Zelda; among others. But what is supposed to be hilarious comes off somewhat forced. This type of comedy is not Powell's style, but sure is the way of studio contract termination, this making NAUGHTY BUT NICE Powell's "swan song."

Then there is the droll Helen Broderick as Powell's more down-to-earth Aunt Martha, along with his other maiden aunts, Penelope Louisa Hardwick (Zasu Pitts), an accurate-on-information know-it-all; Annabella (Vera Lewis) and Henrietta (Elizabeth Dunne), as lovers of classical music. Maxie Rosenbloom, a former boxer, is also featured as Broderick's man-servant who answers doors, cooks cakes and cleans house; Grady Sutton as a college student; and William B. Davidson, billed as Bill Davidson in the closing credits, a familiar face in numerous Warner Brothers features, playing as a crooked song publisher.

NAUGHTY BUT NICE is a good idea gone sour, and at 90 minutes, looks more like an overlong "B" movie. The age of the thirties musicals is over, changing to the swing of things of the more prosperous forties. Warners would produce other musicals, but didn't hit its stride again until YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942) starring none-other than James Cagney. By then Powell had moved on to other studios such as Paramount, Universal and MGM before he successfully transformed into a serious actor in "film-noir" dramas beginning with MURDER, MY SWEET (RKO, 1944), and later director.

NAUGHTY BUT NICE can be seen during the late night hours on Turner Classic Movies. (**)

Naughty But Nice is the story of a professor of music (Dick Powell) who wants his rhapsody to be published. His innocence and lack of taste buds rope him into a contract writing popular music with a female singer (Gale Page), a style that he hates. He becomes hugely popular, and another singer (Ann Sheridan) attempts to steal his talents for herself through shady means.

It is very strange to see Powell in such a film as the character he is. He is an extreme intellectual at the expense of his charm and handsomeness. He does get to show off his beautiful voice, but it is quickly and not very memorable. Zasu Pitts, a former silent movie star, makes a favorable impression as an eccentric and funny aunt of Powell.

There are some very enjoyable parts to the film, especially the bits about the lemonade, but it is rather predictable in places and somewhat dull in others.