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.

Former chorus girl Fanny Morgan (Glenda Farrell) is fighting her estranged husband Alf Morgan (Allen Jenkins) over money. He is set to produce another flop. His investor walks out. He finds mild-mannered Andrew 'Andy' Tucker (Stuart Erwin) to be a suitable replacement sucker. The bad musical "Dance Charlie Dance" turns out to be a surprise comedic hit.

Modern audiences will see the parallel with the plot of The Producers. I love the energy coming from Allen Jenkins and his contrast with Stuart Erwin. I wouldn't mind the movie being just about these two with a couple of other characters. It tries to get more chaotic with a silly lawsuit and lots of side characters getting into the action. It's not quite The Producers, but one can see the inspiration.