The Singing Marine
| The Singing Marine | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ray Enright Busby Berkeley (musical sequences) |
| Written by | Delmer Daves (original screenplay) |
| Produced by | Jack L. Warner Hal B. Wallis |
| Starring | Dick Powell Doris Weston Lee Dixon |
| Cinematography | Arthur L. Todd Sidney Hickox (uncredited) |
| Edited by | Thomas Pratt |
| Music by | Heinz Roemheld |
Production company | Warner Bros. |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Singing Marine is a 1937 American musical film directed by Ray Enright and Busby Berkeley and starring Dick Powell. It was the last of Powell's trio of service-related Warners films: 1934's Flirtation Walk paid tribute, of sorts, to the Army, and 1935's Shipmates Forever to the Navy. This one is distinguished by its two musical sequences directed by Busby Berkeley.
Plot
Bob Brent is a marine recruit from Arkansas who is shy, reserved and modest. Despite these handicaps, he is a big help to his corps buddies. On moonlit nights and sun-kissed days, he croons for the "girls", who fall for the singing and, in turn, also for the marines. Bob's own heart interest is Peggy Randall, a beautiful blonde cashier in a restaurant that he patronizes, but he is too shy and bashful to tell her. In order to show their appreciation to Bob, his buddies take up a collection among themselves to send the bashful Bob to New York City to appear on the popular "Amateur Hour" radio program, broadcast over a national hook-up. He wins First Place. In no time at all, he is besieged by agents and sponsors, is signed for profession engagements, and becomes America's Idol of the Air Waves, makes big money and is at the height of his glory and popularity as a radio star. He also has gained a highly-developed ego. But he still belongs to the Marine Corps and is shipped to Shanghai. Where, in time, his buddies and his cashier heart-throb welcome him again after he has redeemed himself.
Cast
- Dick Powell as Private Robert Brent
- Doris Weston as Peggy Randall
- Lee Dixon as Corporal Slim Baxter
- Hugh Herbert as Aeneas Phinney / Clarissa
- Jane Darwell as "Ma" Marine
- Allen Jenkins as Sergeant Mike Kelly
- Larry Adler as himself
- Marcia Ralston as Helen Young
- Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as Dopey
- Veda Ann Borg as Diane
- Jane Wyman as Joan
- Berton Churchill as J. Montgomery Madison
- Eddie Acuff as Sam
- Henry O'Neill as Captain Skinner
- Addison Richards as Felix Fowler
- unbilled players include Ward Bond, Richard Loo, and Doc Rockwell as himself
References
External links
- The Singing Marine at IMDb
- The Singing Marine at the TCM Movie Database
- The Singing Marine at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- TV Guide plot summary
- Retrospective movie review on "Hometowns to Hollywood"