Artists and Models

Director: Raoul Walsh Raoul Walsh

Overview

Jack Benny had one of his first starring film roles in this breezy comedy with plenty of music. Benny plays Mac Brewster, an advertising man trying to hold on to his biggest client, a silver company run by Alan Townshend (Richard Arlen). Elsewhere in the office, Paula Sewell (Ida Lupino) longs to compete in the Artists and Models Ball and win the title of Queen. However, professional models are frowned upon at the Ball, and all entrants must be debutantes, which is two strikes against Paula; besides, snooty Cynthia Wentworth (Gail Patrick) looks to be a shoo-in to win. But Paula has a plan, and if it works she'll have won more than a crown at the end of the night. Comedy stars Ben Blue and Judy Canova highlight the supporting cast; the great Louis Armstrong performs a tune with Martha Raye.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/02/2014
UPC:	0025192139482
Original Release:	1937
Source:	ALLIED VAUGHN
Language:	English
Time:	1:19:00
Sales rank:	44,842

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Ida Lupino	Paula Sewell / Paula Monterey
Richard Arlen	Alan Townsend
Jack Benny	Mac Brewster
Gail Patrick	Cynthia Wentworth
Ben Blue	Jupiter Pluvius
Judy Canova	Toots/Specialty,Actor,Actor
Cecil Cunningham	Stella
Donald Meek	Dr. Zimmer
Hedda Hopper	Mrs. Townsend
Sandra Storme	Model
Madeline Grey	Marjorie
Alan Birmingham	Craig Sheldon
Kathryn Kay	Lois
Jerry Bergen	Bartender
Mary Shepard	Water Waltzer
Gloria Wheeden	Water Waltzer
Dell Henderson	Lord
Virginia Brissac	Seamstress
Henry Johnson	Juggler,Juggler
Jack Story	Cycling Star
Harvey Poirier	Sharpshooter
Jane Weir	Miss Gordon
Edward Earle	Flunky
Howard Hickman	Mr. Currie
Pat Moran	Tumbler
Martha Raye	Herself
Russell Patterson's Personettos	Actor
Connee Boswell	Specialties
Peter Arno	Artist
McClelland Barclay	Artist
Arthur William Brown	Artist
Rube Goldberg	Artist
John LaGatta	Artist
Russell Patterson	Artist
Yacht Club Boys	Themselves
Louis Armstrong	Himself
Peter Arne	Artist
Ethel Clayton	Actor
Andre Kostelanetz	Himself
David Newell	Romeo
Harry Hayden	Actor
Friedrich Hollaender	Composer
Victor Young	Composer
Leo Robin	Composer

Technical Credits

Walter de Leon

Francis Martin

Lewis E. Gensler	Producer
Raoul Walsh	Director
Walter de Leon	Screenwriter
Francis Martin	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Artists and Models is only a middling musical, but it's somehow much more enjoyable than it should be. Certainly this is not due to the screenplay, which is the same sort of goofy claptrap that is found in dozens of other period musicals, especially those which are essentially vaudevilles with a thin storyline tying the specialty acts together. Yet the plot is a wee bit more developed than usual in these pics, and some of the comic bits are actually amusing. And while the score is far from stellar, it's quite pleasant, especially the handful of Burton Lane tunes that tickle the ear without lingering there for a very long time. Friedrich Hollander's "Whispers in the Dark" is quite lovely, especially as sung by the irreplaceable Connee Boswell. Judy Canova and Ben Blue are lively as all get out, and Martha Raye and Louis Armstrong stomping through "Public Melody No. 1" is a treat. That last song, by the way, marked the first film contribution of Vincente Minnelli and also caused a scandal among some filmgoers for showing a white woman and a black man performing together. Ida Lupino is worth watching, if wasted, but the film's biggest asset is star Jack Benny, demonstrating his perfect timing and generating laughs simply from the way in which he pauses.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler