Ups and Downs

Ups and Downs (1937)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Charming Vitaphone two-reeler has an elevator operator (Hal LeRoy) falling in love with a business man's daughter (June Allyson) and soon he gets the chance to give daddy a big stock tip. The only problem is that the operator doesn't realize what type of information he's actually giving. UPS AND DOWNS clocks in at just over twenty-minutes and for the most part it's charming from start to finish. The actual story here isn't anything special but then again not many Vitaphone shorts had a good story as they were pretty much just filler to keep the viewer entertained in between musical acts. The musical acts here aren't the most thrilling ever made but The Deauville Boys do a nice number towards the end and we've also got Allyson singing a song. I'd say the main reason this picture was made was to show off the tap dancing skills of LeRoy. His dancing is actually very good and if you've seen his other shorts from this era then you know that the studio was obviously very high on him as he managed to do quite a bit of films but he's pretty much been forgotten today. However, that's the great thing about Turner Classic Movies because they show these forgotten films and introduce us to people we certainly wouldn't have known otherwise. It's also nice getting to see Allyson in such an early role and there's no question she too adds plenty of charm.

June Daily (June Allyson) is engaged to her rich daddy stockbroker J. C. Daily's assistant Richard Burton. The problem is that she has a crush on the dancing elevator operator Hal Smith (Hal Le Roy) and they love dancing in the elevator together.

I like the dancing. More could be done inside the elevator. It's the perfect location to do the rotating room. This is not that imaginative. This is a simple song and dance short. There is nothing that special about it. I like both leads. Hal has his goofy smile. It's June's first credited performance. There is also early Phil Silvers. It's all very fine.

Rich girl June Daily (June Allyson) is supposed to marry some society guy but has inexplicably fallen for Hal the elevator operator (Hal Le Roy). Surely her father won't approve but Hal tries to impress him...and accidentally nearly bankrupts the guy. However, all works out just fine at the end and so the happy couple do what everyone would do in this situation--dance!

This is a bizarre film because of the very strange dance numbers. One is inside and elevator and the one at the end is a strange extravaganza with lots of elevator men and cute ladies. None of it really makes any sense and it is a bit dopey...but also so weird that it's actually worth seeing. Plus, while the film is about 21 minutes long, unlike most Vitaphone shorts, this one is like an entire movie crammed into this time frame.

By the way, if you do see it, June Allyson is a blonde AND Phil Silvers has a lot of hair!

This is another weakly plotted vehicle, existing mainly to showcase Hal LeRoy's wonderful legomania tap dancing. If you already like Hal LeRoy then I've said enough; if you've not yet seen him then this isn't a bad place to start (though the numbers here aren't as good as they are in Rhythmyitis or Picture Palace), particularly since it's one of the few Leroy films currently viewable (available as an extra on the DVD of "Stage Door").

This short also marks the first screen appearances of both June Allyson and Phil Silvers. Silvers isn't given much to do, and only shows hints of the zaniness he would eventually develop. June Allyson appears incredibly young, a tad gawky, and already projecting her typical warm charm. Unfortunately she's not in LeRoy's class as a dancer; instead of firing up his energy she somewhat holds him back when they're dancing together.

Still, all in all, well worth renting the DVD just to watch this short.

This short subject a Vitagraph from Warner Brothers features a platinum blonde June Allyson and dancer Hal LeRoy. LeRoy never quite made it to movie stardom. Allyson did with a different studio and a different look.

It was strange seeing girl next door June Allyson made up like Jean Harlow. Harlow died that year and maybe the brothers Warner were looking for their own platinum blonde.

It sure didn't go with the image MGM cultivated for Allyson that made her a star. No wonder it took her several more years to achieve her stardom.

Phil Silvers is also in this short. Fans of his might also want to check it out.