Cinematography:
James Wong HoweComposer:
William AxtCast:
Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Jimmy Durante, Polly Moran, Charles Butterworth, Eddie Quillan, June Clyde, Lupe Velez, George Givot, Richard Carle, Larry Fine (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
HOLLYWOOD PARTY was planned as a lavish, star-studded MGM musical titled Hollywood Revue of 1933. Under the less-than-sterling guidance of "kicked upstairs" MGM producer Harry Rapf, production dragged on interminably, using up the talents of five directors (none of whom were credited) and seven writers. The "all star" cast lineup slowly dwindled down to comparatively inexpensive contract players Jimmy Durante and Jack Pearl (radio's Baron Munchhausen) and a passel of non-MGM personalities. The final product wove a goofy story about The Great Schnarzan (Durante), a jungle-movie star whose films are suffering at the box office because his lions are anemic. Schnarzan schemes to purchase several healthy lions from Baron Munchhausen; to get the baron into a bargaining mood, Schnarzan throws a huge Hollywood party in Munchhausen's honor. Liondora (George Givot), Schnarzan's "hated rival", hopes to purchase the Baron's lions for himself, and crashes the party disguised as a Greek Baron. Also figuring into the plot are the members of the Klemp family (Charles Butterworth, Polly Moran and June Clyde), who are filthy rich and thus quite attractive to both Schnarzan and Liondora; poor-but-honest Eddie Quillan, who romances the Klemp's daughter; and Schnarzan's ex-girlfriend Lupe Velez, who shows up at the party in an astonishingly revealing gown for the express purpose of making trouble. In an amusing animated sequence courtesy of Walt Disney, Mickey Mouse introduces the Technicolor musical exploits of "The Hot Chocolate Soldiers." Shortly before the end, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy make a welcome appearance as a pair of lion-farm owners who wish to collect a debt from Baron Munchhausen. This segues into the classic egg-breaking sequence involving Stan, Ollie, and Lupe Velez. Now we've reached the 65 minute mark, with no logical ending in sight. Director Allan Dwan, brought into the project at the last minute, took a look at the existing footage and declared "It's a nightmare!" Inspired, Dwan directed a closing sequence which suggested that the whole plot had been dreamed by Jimmy Durante; Durante is wakened from his slumbers by his wife--played by Mrs. Jimmy Durante. HOLLYWOOD PARTY makes no sense at all, but it's a must for comedy lovers and 1930s film buffs. Don't miss that opening number, written by Rodgers and Hart and performed by Frances Williams and a chorus of barely dressed telephone operators; and keep an eye peeled for a lengthy uncredited appearance by the Three Stooges. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Stan Laurel](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/269/269525_b07437.jpg)
Stan Laurel
UK
Best movies:
Laurel and Hardy's Laughing 20's (1965) - a.f.
Pack Up Your Troubles (1932)
Our Relations (1936)
![Oliver Hardy](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/269/269526_a849d0.jpg)
Oliver Hardy
USA
Best movies:
Laurel and Hardy's Laughing 20's (1965) - a.f.
Pack Up Your Troubles (1932)
Our Relations (1936)
![Jimmy Durante](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/097/319/97319129_0bbd26.jpg)
Jimmy Durante
USA
Best movies:
Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
Little Miss Broadway (1938)
![Polly Moran](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/157/802/157802501_ad5148.jpg)
Polly Moran
USA
Best movies:
Flesh and the Devil (1926)
Adam's Rib (1949)
The Scarlet Letter (1926)
![Charles Butterworth](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/712/158712228_d024de.jpg)
Charles Butterworth
USA
Best movies:
Second Chorus (1940)
Hollywood Party (1934)
Follow the Boys (1944)
![Eddie Quillan](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/273/273547_f5c86f.jpg)
Eddie Quillan
USA
Best movies:
Fury (1936)
Hello, Dolly! (1969)
Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
![June Clyde](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/634/158634766_faff05.jpg)
June Clyde
USA
Best movies:
Hollywood Party (1934)
![Lupe Velez](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/274/274415_4cac33.jpg)
Lupe Velez
Mexico
Best movies:
Where East Is East (1929)
Hollywood Party (1934)
![George Givot](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/053/160053813_fd4b8f.jpg)
George Givot
USA
Best movies:
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
The Racers (1955)
Road to Morocco (1942)
![Richard Carle](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/455/160455943_e24f24.jpg)
Richard Carle
USA
Best movies:
Ninotchka (1939)
It's a Wonderful World (1939)
San Francisco (1936)
![Larry Fine](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/505/505392_c61fc9.jpg)
Larry Fine
USA
Best movies:
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
Hollywood Party (1934)
Dancing Lady (1933)
![Curly Howard](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/405/405106_16c6de.jpg)
Curly Howard
USA
Best movies:
Hollywood Party (1934)
Dancing Lady (1933)
Swing Parade of 1946 (1946)
Moe Howard
USA
Best movies:
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
Hollywood Party (1934)
Dancing Lady (1933)
![Tom London](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/157/886/157886909_f70429.jpg)
Tom London
USA
Best movies:
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
Our Hospitality (1923)
Freaks (1932)
![Robert Young](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/271/271481_ed37b7.jpg)
Robert Young
USA
Best movies:
The Mortal Storm (1940)
Three Comrades (1938)
They Won't Believe Me (1947)
![Walt Disney](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/165/642/165642422_36cbce.jpg)
Walt Disney
USA
Best movies:
Fantasia (1940)
Hollywood Party (1934)
The Reluctant Dragon (1941)
![Shirley Ross](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/278/278034_916a10.jpg)
Shirley Ross
USA
Best movies:
San Francisco (1936)
Manhattan Melodrama (1934)
The Merry Widow (1934)
![Ted Healy](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/105/792/105792792_3f52fa.jpg)
Ted Healy
USA
Best movies:
Mad Love (1935)
San Francisco (1936)
Hollywood Party (1934)
![Irene Hervey](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/126/158126140_08a608.jpg)
Irene Hervey
USA
Best movies:
Cactus Flower (1969)
Destry Rides Again (1939)
The Count of Monte Cristo (1934)
![Martha Sleeper](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/126/158126093_dbdf3d.jpg)
Martha Sleeper
USA
Best movies:
The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
Hollywood Party (1934)