Ups and Downs

June Allyson May be a Wall Street millionaire's daughter, but what she wants is to tap dance with elevator boy Hal Leroy in his enormous elevator cab.

Well, I think it best to leave the description at that. It's one of the short subjects that Leroy made after his movie career as a dancing juvenile tailed off after HAL TEEN. He was an energetic fellow who looked far younger than his 24 years, but despite being able to tap up a storm, the movies didn't want him, so back to Broadway he went.

Miss Allyson, too, seemed a non-starter. However, after another six years on Broadway. She found herself playing teenagers for MGM at age 26. Goodness knows what went into the chicken soup at the MGM cafeteria; it was based on Louis Mayer's mother's recipe.

Phil Silvers is in this one too. See if you can recognize him with hair on his head.

Hal Le Roy has his "Ups and Downs" as a tap-dancing elevator operator. He romances perky, rich elevator passenger June Allyson. After Ms. Allyson invites Mr. Le Roy out for a dinner date, he walks off the job. In order to show Allyson a good time, the poor Le Roy tries to get some money from tailor friend Phil Silvers.

Mr. Le Roy's an outstanding dancer, but the film's structure and sub-plots - something about taking stock in elevators, and a rival suitor named Richard - are very weak. Ms. Allyson and Mr. Silvers show only a hint of their later personas. Additionally, there are a couple of unrelated musical "showcase" numbers.

*** Ups and Downs (10/9/37) Roy Mack ~ Hal Le Roy, June Allyson, Phil Silvers

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.

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.

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.