That's Right - You're Wrong

Most of the other Kay Kyser films that were done in the late 30's and early 40's require a significant historical perspective in order to enjoy them. First, in all of them you need to recognize something about Kyser's act itself, in some of them you need to know something about how the film industry figured into building civilian morale during World War II, and in still others you need specific knowledge of how particular stars were viewed by the public at that time so that the parodies that are part of the plot make sense. This one requires the least background knowledge, although you're not going to like this one if you don't enjoy the big bands of the 30's and 40's and the somewhat corny humor - by today's standards - that was part of the act.

This film has Kyser and his band going out to Hollywood to star in a film at the studio's request. Unbelievably, a plot has been picked out ahead of time by the studio without anyone knowing what Kyser looks like. He's been slated as a romantic lead, and the film's producer and the writers are horrified when they see that Kyser is not a classically good-looking guy. Kay has to deal with the fact that his band members seem to be going Hollywood on him, and the producer (Adolphe Menjou) has to find a way to manipulate Kay into wanting out of his movie contract without causing any hard feelings - the studio head is a big Kay Kyser fan. However, Kay turns the tables on Menjou's character quite comically.

Look for a very young Lucille Ball in a small part as Sandra Sand, the actress that has been chosen as the romantic lead for Kyser in his first film. The two are quite hilarious together in Kay's screen test, and Ms. Ball shows us a glimpse of the great comedienne she'll be on TV in the 50's and beyond.

If I could rate this movie higher than a 10, I would. May Robson does a wonderful job at playing Kay's Grandma. She has told Kay several times to "stay in his own back yard". Well, that is some good advice that we all should listen to. The musical scene that the gang does for Stacy Delmor, played by Adolf Menjou and Tom Village, played by Edward Everett Horton is a riot. Everyone should see this movie. It is timeless with it's puns, it's laughs and it's music. Sandra Sand played by Lucill Ball, well all I can say is that part suits Ms. Ball. I would say that out of all of the Kay Kyser films I have seen (few as they are) this one is my favorite. You'll have to watch this film to see exactly what I am talking about. To para-phrase one of Kay's other movies... "You'll Find Out"... do watch this when you can.

Yes, I know Lucille Ball is in this movie, but if you blink, you'll miss her. She's in one mildly funny scene.

Otherwise, this movie revolves around band leader Kay Kyser. He's an engaging guy, so he more or less carries the picture.

What he doesn't carry is the musical numbers, which are all forgettable and can be skipped. Given that there are a fair number of them, that's unfortunate.

"Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge" was an extremely popular weekly radio broadcast when RKO signed Kyser and his band to this, their first film. The studio's faith in the bespectacled band-leader paid off handsomely at the box office, this initial effort grossing more than a million dollars in domestic admissions alone. All told, the studio netted around $520,000 in U.S./Canadian rentals after paying all print, advertising and distribution expenses. On a negative cost of $300,000 this returned a tidy profit which was split three ways: RKO, Butler and Kyser himself.

As to whether the film is still entertaining today, that depends on whether you're a Kay Kyser fan and/or a Ginny Simms admirer. I put myself strictly in the latter class, though I must admit Kyser is quite tolerable here — and even mildly diverting, aside from the climactically generous (but specially staged for the movie) excerpt from his weekly radio program which wears my patience a little thin. Fortunately, Miss Simms does receive a large amount of the camera's attention (beautifully costumed and photographed she is too) and sings most of the songs as well. On the other hand, I'm happy to report that my pet hate, Merwyn Bogue (Ish Kabibble to you) receives comparatively little footage. Adolphe Menjou, typecast once again as a harassed film producer, gives a somewhat mechanical performance, but does contribute some amusing moments, as do Horton and Cavanaugh as a couple of egotistical scriptwriters.

I'm always a pushover for movies with a Hollywood background. The satire here is rather mild, but still reasonably entertaining. Especially the gondola screen test in which Lucy Ball (who has otherwise very little to do in this picture) finally gets some comic moments.

THAT'S RIGHT, YOU'RE WRONG is the first Kyser feature (there were 7) and I think his best. The plot is rather formulaic, but with a couple of cute twists. I recently purchased director David Butler's script (I'm a Kyser 'kollector') and followed along as i watched the film. There was a song cut, and dialogue as well. Turns out Louella Parsons and then columnist Ed Sullivan were to be in the film alongside Hedda Hopper, Jimmy Fidler et al. Songs are great, band great, Lucille Ball great. Could be this is a bit corny by today's standards, but who cares? It's a fun, innocent flick that presented all the (then) on-air radio characters of the extremely popular Kyser band- Ish Kabibble, Harry Babbitt, Ginny Simms, and Sully Mason, as well as Kyser, visually for the first time.