Out Where the Stars Begin

Delicious appetizer comedy short shot in absolutely exquisite Technicolor at Warner Bros to showcase both the studio and new 1938 films. Made to co-incide with their first Technicolor feature THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, we are also treated to snippets of the Jezebel set, Warner Gangster back-lot, and others by a jive/swing Teenage guide who leads and sings his tour group across the sound-stages. It is the color and a few stars mainly on show that are the focus, and you will be repeat viewing for several days once you discover where it is: part of a clever new Warner Bros Night At The Movies DVD release, this short is to be found with ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES in the support program as if you are at the local cinema in 1938. It is a great idea and a perfect way to bundle appropriate items from the treasure trove of studio vault wonders freshly re-minted for DVD. The musical stage set the tour group visits is a delight of Deco silver blue and pink...and the hilarious antics of Fritz Feld as manic Euro director Nitvitch is supposed to be a razzing of Michael Curtiz. The swing dance number is a hoot and offers the 2006 viewer one of the first times ever we are able to see - in glorious 1930s color - the sight of a real Hollywood chorus line in silver hot-pants blonde wigs and top hats (looking very like Madonna) - all tap-dancing away to the tune of "She'd rather dance than love'. It's the real thing and it's the first I know of in proper Technicolour..as if a Busby Berkley number was shot that way. Of course it was Bobby Connolly who is the choreographer here...soon to be at Monogram with skate star Belita in her mega big band musical LADY LETS DANCE in 1942. Find this DVD of ANGELS and run through the entire program with your family. Congrats to WB for at last offering insightful marketing for us all to enjoy these delights from the studio vaults. Thanks! The Technicolor 1937 UA release GOLDWYN FOLLIES is a close feature length counterpart (which probably inspired this short at WB) It too is set in a studio making a new musical and features The Ritz Brothers (singing a risqué swing song "Here pussy pussy pussy pussy") along with the hideous and strange Kenny Baker. Now if we can only get someone to release VOGUES OF 1938 which is a fashion musical made in real 3 strip Technicolour (just like these films) as a restored DVD, the world would be a rainbow of 30s delights....along with the Selznick STAR IS BORN and GARDEN OF ALLAH both from 1936. RAMONA anyone? ...while we're at it.

Evelyn Thawl as "Sally Carter" was pretty and wholesome-looking and a good dancer as she demonstrates here in this 20-minute short came with the "Angels Have Dirty Faces" DVD. It's always nice to see the beautiful Technicolor back in those rare times when it was filmed in the 1930s.

"Sally" is trying to break into the movie business as a dancer. She makes a quick friend in the makeup artist (no name given but played by Jeffrey Lynn) who persuades director "Mr. Nitovich" (Fritz Field) to give her shot. The film also belongs to Field as he gives an over- the-top satire performance of a dramatic European film director making his debut in American films. It's a good thing this is short film because "Nitovich," which his abrasive yelling, soon wears out his welcome.

Anyway, Thawl performs a ballet and a tap dance number, Lynn sings a song and we see cameo shots of a few stars such as Pat O'Brien and Ann Sheridan.

Overall, it's quite corny and dated and, frankly, not something I would more than twice. A sad note: from what I could find, Miss Thawl, who performed mostly on Broadway, lived a very short life....but I have no details of what happened to her.

Out Where the Stars Begin (1938)

*** (out of 4)

Sally Carter (Evelyn Thawl) arrives in Hollywood hoping to get on the Warner lot for their latest Musical that is about to start shooting. The wannabe actress enters the lot via a tour and soon finds herself on the sound stage and given her one shot to impress with her voice. This certainly isn't the greatest short ever made but it's a pleasant one with some nice performances plus a great look at the Warner back lot. Dick Foran, Wayne Morris, Ann Sheridan and Pat O'Brien all appear early on as their cars pull up to the studio gates. The rest of the film has Thawl doing a little dance and a couple music numbers and for the most part I found them all to be entertaining. I thought she handled herself quite well here and turned in a good performance. Another big key to enjoying this film is that it was shot in 3-strip Technicolor and looks quite good. Just check out that dark green car that O'Brien is riding in.

A warners shortie, starring evelyn thawl, jeff lynn. It's a parody of hollywood show biz. When the star storms out, sally is in the right place a the right time. Her new friend, the make-up artist, puts her in as the ballerina. Some fun, quick guest spots by all the big studio stars. Some pretty good dancing by thawl, in kind of a mini busby berkeley number. Directed by bob connolly. It's quite a lavish project, for a 19 minute short film. I guess because they highlighted so many stars in such a short time. Connolly died young at 46, but accomplished a lot; nominated for four oscars in dance direction. Thawl only worked on a few projects in the 1930s and 1940s, and died young at 31.

"Out Where the Stars Begin" seems like a typical glamorization of Hollywood. It reminds me a little bit of Tex Avery's cartoon "Daffy Duck in Hollywood", in which Daffy interferes with the production of a movie. Exactly the sort of flick that "Mystery Science Theater 3000" could have shown. My favorite character was Nitvitch, the overstuffed director (a parody of "Casablanca" director Michael Curtiz). He's the kind of grouch who we'd all love to be at least once.

Otherwise, the whole thing is really hokey, especially the singing guide. What would be really neat would be a cross between this movie and...oh, I don't know..."Snakes on a Plane"! Or "Idiocracy".

That's my take on it.