Whoopee! (film)

Whoopee! is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy musical Western film photographed in two-color Technicolor. It was directed by Thornton Freeland and stars Eddie Cantor, Ethel Shutta and Eleanor Hunt. The film's plot closely follows that of the 1928 stage show produced by Florenz Ziegfeld.

Whoopee
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Thornton Freeland
Written by	William M. Conselman E.J. Rath (story) Robert Hobart Davis (story) Owen Davis (play) William Anthony McGuire (musical)
Produced by	Samuel Goldwyn Florenz Ziegfeld
Starring	Eddie Cantor Ethel Shutta Eleanor Hunt
Cinematography	Lee Garmes Ray Rennahan Gregg Toland
Edited by	Stuart Heisler
Music by	Nacio Herb Brown Walter Donaldson Edward Eliscu
Color process	Technicolor
Production company	Samuel Goldwyn Productions
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	September 30, 1930 (1930-09-30)
Running time	101 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1.9 million[1]
Box office	$2,655,000[2]

Plot

Sally Morgan loves an Indian named Wanenis, but her father forbids her to marry Wanenis, instead favoring sheriff Bob Wells. Just before marrying Wells, Sally decides that she loves Wanenis too much and tricks farmhand Henry Williams into helping her flee to the ranch of Jerome Underwood. Wells searches for Sally, causing trouble for the oblivious Henry.

Cast

Illustration of a scene from the film

• Eddie Cantor as Henry Williams
• Ethel Shutta as Mary Custer
• Paul Gregory as Wanenis
• Eleanor Hunt as Sally Morgan
• Jack Rutherford as Sheriff Bob Wells
• Walter Law as Jud Morgan
• Spencer Charters as Jerome Underwood
• Albert Hackett as Chester Underwood
• Marian Marsh as Harriett Underwood

Production

Whoopee! made a film star of Eddie Cantor, already known for his work on the Broadway stage and as a singer.^[3] The song "My Baby Just Cares for Me" was written especially for Cantor to sing in the film and became one of his signature songs. Bandleader George Olsen, already a well-known Victor recording artist, repeated his work from the stage version.

The film launched the Hollywood career of Busby Berkeley and was Alfred Newman's first composing job in Hollywood. Richard Day designed the sets and the cinematographer was Gregg Toland, who later found fame through his work in the films of Orson Welles. H. Bruce "Lucky" Humberstone served in an uncredited role as assistant director.^[4]

Future stars Betty Grable, Paulette Goddard, Ann Sothern, Virginia Bruce and Claire Dodd appear uncredited as "Goldwyn Girls".

Awards

The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction by Richard Day.^[5][6]

Reception

The film has been called a "a musical western extravaganza".^[7] Cecil A. Smith and Glenn Litton recalled that "Director Frank Corsaro was criticized for exaggerating the show's dramatic style.".^[8]

See also

• List of early color feature films