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{{short description|1929 film}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
|name = Street Girl
| name = Street Girl
| image = Street Girl Film Advertisement.jpg
| image = Street Girl Film Advertisement.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Magazine advertisement for ''Street Girl''
| caption = Magazine advertisement for ''Street Girl''
| producer = [[William LeBaron]] <br> [[Wesley Ruggles]]
| producer = A [[Wesley Ruggles]] Production<br>produced by<br>[[William LeBaron]]<br>[[Louis Sarecky]] (associate producer)
| director = [[Wesley Ruggles]]
| director = [[Wesley Ruggles]]
| writer = Jane Murfin<br>'''Based on the story:''' ''The Viennese Charmer'' by W. Carey Wonderly
| writer = [[Jane Murfin]]
| based_on = {{based on|''The Viennese Charmer''<br>1928 ''Young's Magazine''|W. Carey Wonderly}}
|starring = [[Betty Compson]]<br>[[John Harron]]<br>[[Ivan Lebedeff]]
|music = [[Oscar Levant]]<br>[[Sidney Clare]]
| starring = [[Betty Compson]]<br>[[John Harron]]<br>[[Jack Oakie]]
| music = [[Oscar Levant]]<br>[[Sidney Clare]]
|cinematography = [[Leo Tover]]
| cinematography = [[Leo Tover]]
|editing = [[William Hamilton (film editor)|William Hamilton]]<br>Ann McKnight
| editing = [[Ann McKnight]]<br>[[William Hamilton (film editor)|William Hamilton]]
|studio = [[RKO Radio Pictures]]
|distributor = [[RKO Radio Pictures]]
| studio = [[A Radio Picture]]<br>[[RKO Productions, Inc.]]
| distributor = RKO Distributing Corp'n.
|released = {{Film date|1929|7|30|Premiere-''New York City''|1929|8|21|''US''| ref1= <ref name=AFI>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=26519| title=Street Girl: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate=June 3, 2014}} </ref>|ref2=<ref name=AFI />}}
| released = {{Film date|1929|7|30|Premiere-''New York City''|1929|8|21|''US''| ref1= <ref name=AFI>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=12458| title=Street Girl: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate=June 3, 2014}}</ref>|ref2=<ref name=AFI />}}
| runtime = 87 minutes
| runtime = 87 minutes
| language = English
| language = English
| country = United States
| country = United States
| budget = $211,000<ref name="rko">Richard Jewel, 'RKO Film Grosses: 1931-1951', ''Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television'', Vol 14 No 1, 1994 p55</ref>
| budget = $211,000<ref name="rko">Richard Jewel, 'RKO Film Grosses: 1931-1951', ''Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television'', Vol 14 No 1, 1994 p55</ref>
| gross = $1,004,000<ref name="rko"/>
| gross = $1,004,000<ref name="rko"/>
|}}
}}


'''''Street Girl''''' is a [[1929 in film|1929]] [[Musical film|musical]] [[comedy film|comedy]]-[[drama film]] directed by [[Wesley Ruggles]], and released by [[RKO Radio Pictures]]. While it was the first film made by the studio, its release was delayed until after ''[[Syncopation (1929 film)|Syncopation]]'' (released March 1929), becoming RKO's second release. Adapted by [[Jane Murfin]] from "The Viennese Charmer", a short story by William Carey Wonderly, it stars [[Betty Compson]], [[John Harron]] and [[Ivan Lebedeff]]. It was very successful at the box office, amounting to almost half of RKO's profits for the entire year.<ref name=RKO>{{cite book | title=The RKO Story | last1=Jewell | first1=Richard B. | last2=Harbin | first2=Vernon | publisher=Arlington House | year=1982 | place=New York | page=20 |ISBN=0-517-546566}}</ref>
'''''Street Girl''''' is a 1929 [[Pre-Code Hollywood|pre-Code]] [[musical film]] directed by [[Wesley Ruggles]] and starring [[Betty Compson]], [[John Harron]] and [[Jack Oakie]]. It was adapted by [[Jane Murfin]] from "The Viennese Charmer", a short story by William Carey Wonderly. While it was the first film made by [[RKO Radio Pictures]], its opening was delayed until after ''[[Syncopation (1929 film)|Syncopation]]'', making it RKO's second release. It was very successful at the box office, accounting for almost half of RKO's profits for the entire year.<ref name=RKO>{{cite book | title=The RKO Story | last1=Jewell | first1=Richard B. | last2=Harbin | first2=Vernon | publisher=Arlington House | year=1982 | place=New York | page=20 |ISBN=0-517-546566}}</ref>


==Plot summary==
==Plot==
The Four Seasons are a [[jazz]] quartet who are very good at making music, but not so good at making money, forcing them to share a small rundown apartment. The quartet consists of Happy Winter on violin, Joe Spring on clarinet, Pete Summer on accordion and guitar, and Mike Fall on piano and trumpet. On his way home one night, Freddie saves a homeless waif from the mythical land of Aregon, Freddie, from an attack by a drunken man. He invites her in for dinner, and famished, she accepts. She tells them that back in her homeland, she was a very well known violinist, even having given a command performance for her country's ruler, Prince Nicholaus. Inside the apartment, Mike convinces his bandmates to allow Freddie to room with them, after they discover she has no place to go. In exchange, Freddie offers to manage the band. Freddie talks the band into asking for a raise where they currently work, but when they do, instead of getting a raise, they are fired.
The Four Seasons are a very good [[jazz]] quartet, but they perform in a [[New York City]] cafe for only $100 a week, forcing them to share a small, rundown apartment. The quartet consists of Joe Spring on clarinet, Pete Summer on accordion and guitar, Mike Fall on piano and trumpet, and an ever-pessimistic Happy Winter on violin.


On his way home one night, Mike drives off a man accosting a young blonde named Frederika Joyzelle. When she tells him she has not eaten in two days, he persuades her to share the group's dinner. She tells them that back in her homeland, she was a violinist. The highlight of her career given a command performance for her homeland's ruler, Prince Nicholaus of Aregon. Mike convinces his bandmates to allow "Freddie" to room with them for two weeks, after they discover she has no place to go. Freddie talks the band into asking for a raise to $200, but when they are turned down, they impulsively quit. Mike is further discouraged when they return to the apartment to find Freddie gone.
Freddie convinces the owner of a local Aregonese restaurant, Keppel, to hire the quartet, and joins the band as their violinist. As time goes on, a romance develops between Freddie and Mike, with them planning to marry. After Prince Nicholaus of Aregon goes to the cafe to see the band, he recognizes Freddie and kisses her on the forehead. The photograph of the kiss causes the restaurant to jump in popularity overnight. However, it also causes Mike to become jealous to the point of quitting the band. The popularity of Keppel's restaurant allows him to move into a larger establishment. With the help of Prince Nicholaus, Freddie and Mike are reunited in time for the grand opening of Keppel's new restaurant. In an ironic twist, Happy, who is anything but, finally smiles in the last scene of the film.

However, Freddie soon returns with great news. She has spent all day trying to convince Keppel, the owner of the well-known Little Aregon Cafe, to give the quartet a tryout. She finally succeeded, and at a salary of $300 a week. She gets a job there too, as a [[Cigarette girl (person)|cigarette girl]] and part-time violinist. As time goes on, Mike falls in love with Freddie, but is unsure how she feels about him.

Prince Nicholaus of Aregon is in town, trying to arrange financing for his country. He and his entourage go to the cafe, much to Keppel's delight. When Freddie performs for him, he remembers her and kisses her on the forehead. The newspaper coverage of the kiss causes the cafe to skyrocket in popularity overnight. When a competitor of Keppel's asks the group to perform at his establishment, Keppel wins a bidding war by raising their wages to $3000 a week. This enables them to move into a much fancier apartment. However, the kiss also causes Mike to become jealous to the point of quitting the band.

The popularity of Keppel's cafe allows him to move into the larger "Club Joyzelle". With the help of Prince Nicholaus, Freddie and Mike are reunited in time for the grand opening. Even Happy, who is anything but, smiles as a result.


==Cast==
==Cast==
{{col-begin}}{{col-break}}
* [[Betty Compson]] as Frederika "Freddy" Joyzelle
* [[Betty Compson]] as Frederika "Freddy" Joyzelle
* [[John Harron]] as Mike Fall
* [[John Harron]] as Mike Fall
⚫
* Guy Buccola as The Kamen Baker
* [[Jack Oakie]] as Joe Spring
* [[Jack Oakie]] as Joe Spring
* [[Ned Sparks]] as Happy Winter
* [[Ned Sparks]] as Happy Winter
⚫
* Guy Buccola as Pete Summer
* [[Joseph Cawthorn]] as Keppel (cafe owner)
* [[Joseph Cawthorn]] as Keppel
* [[Ivan Lebedeff]] as Prince Nicholaus of Aregon
* [[Ivan Lebedeff]] as Prince Nicholaus of Aregon
* [[Doris Eaton]] as Singer at Club Joyzelle
* [[Gus Arnheim|Gus Arnheim and His Ambassadors]] as Themselves
* [[Gus Arnheim and His Ambassadors]]
⚫
* [[Russ Columbo]] as Violinist (uncredited)
{{col-break}}
* Cimini Male Chorus as Themselves

===Unbilled===
* [[André Cheron (actor)|André Cheron]] as Aide to Prince Nicholaus
* [[June Clyde]] as Blonde at McGregor's
⚫
* [[Russ Columbo]] as Violinist with Gus Arnheim and His Ambassadors
* [[Eddie Kane]] as Mr. Gilman
* [[Wilfrid North]] as Man with Prince Nicholaus
* [[Rolfe Sedan]] as Patron at Little Aregon
* [[Ellinor Vanderveer]] as Dowager at Little Aregon
* [[Florence Wix]] as Prince Nicolaus' Escort
{{col-end}}


==Reception==
==Reception==
The film opened at [[New York City]]'s [[Lunt-Fontanne Theatre|Globe Theatre]] (now named the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre)<ref>{{cite book|last=Crafton|first=Donald |title=The Talkies: American Cinema's Transition to Sound, 1926-1931|publisher=University of California Press|year=1999|pages=160|isbn=0-520-22128-1}}</ref> and earned over a million dollars for [[RKO]].<ref name="musicals">{{cite book|last=Bradley|first=Edwin M. |title=The First Hollywood Musicals: A Critical Filmography of 171 Features, 1927 Through 1932|publisher=McFarland|year=2004|pages=51|isbn=0-7864-2029-4}}</ref> It made $806,000 domestically and $198,000 overseas, resulting in a profit of $500,000.<ref name="rko"/>
The film opened at [[New York City]]'s [[Lunt-Fontanne Theatre|Globe Theatre]] (now named the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre)<ref>{{cite book|last=Crafton|first=Donald |title=The Talkies: American Cinema's Transition to Sound, 1926-1931|url=https://archive.org/details/talkiesamericanc00craf|url-access=limited|publisher=University of California Press|year=1999|pages=[https://archive.org/details/talkiesamericanc00craf/page/n172 160]|isbn=0-520-22128-1}}</ref> and earned over a million dollars for [[RKO]].<ref name="musicals">{{cite book|last=Bradley|first=Edwin M. |title=The First Hollywood Musicals: A Critical Filmography of 171 Features, 1927 Through 1932|publisher=McFarland|year=2004|pages=51|isbn=0-7864-2029-4}}</ref> It made $806,000 domestically and $198,000 overseas,<ref name=rko/> resulting in a profit of $800,000, almost half of RKO's total profit for the year of $1,670,000.<ref name="RKO"/>


==Songs==
==Songs==
*"My Dream Memory" - Oscar Levant and Sidney Clare&nbsp;— Performed by Doris Eaton and the Radio Pictures Beauty Chorus<ref name=Theiapolis>{{cite web | url=http://cinema.theiapolis.com/movie-2MA6/street-girl/ | title=Street Girl: Technical Details | publisher=theiapolis.com | accessdate=April 2, 2014}}</ref>
* "My Dream Memory" — Oscar Levant and Sidney Clare&nbsp;— Performed by Betty Compson on violin<ref name=Theiapolis>{{cite web | url=http://cinema.theiapolis.com/movie-2MA6/street-girl/ | title=Street Girl: Technical Details | publisher=theiapolis.com | accessdate=April 2, 2014}}</ref>
*"Lovable and Sweet" - Oscar Levant and Sidney Clare&nbsp;— Performed by John Harron, Ned Sparks, Jack Oakie, and Guy Buccola<ref name=Theiapolis/>
* "Lovable and Sweet" — Oscar Levant and Sidney Clare&nbsp;— Performed by John Harron, Ned Sparks, Jack Oakie, and Guy Buccola<ref name=Theiapolis/>
*"Broken Up Tune" - Oscar Levant and Sidney Clare&nbsp;— Performed by Betty Compson on violin with Arnheim band<ref name=Theiapolis/>
* "Broken Up Tune You're Doin' It" — Oscar Levant and Sidney Clare&nbsp;— Performed by Doris Eaton with Gus Arnheim band<ref name=Theiapolis/>


==Remakes==
==Remakes==
Line 52: Line 73:


==Notes==
==Notes==
The short story upon which this film is based originally appeared in ''Young's Magazine'', and its title, ''The Viennese Charmer'', would indicate that Freddie's original homeland might have been Austria, but was fictionalized to Aregon for the film version.<ref name=tcm>{{cite web | url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/91693/Street-Girl/articles.html | title=Street Girl: Articles | publisher=Turner Classic Movies | accessdate=April 2, 2014}}</ref>
The March 1928 short story upon which the film is based originally appeared in ''Young's Magazine'', and its title, "The Viennese Charmer", would indicate that Freddie's original homeland might have been Austria, but was fictionalized to Aregon for the film version.<ref name=tcm>{{cite web | url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/91693/Street-Girl/articles.html | title=Street Girl: Articles | publisher=Turner Classic Movies | accessdate=April 2, 2014}}</ref>

The film's profit of just under $800,000 accounted for almost half of RKO's total profit for the year of $1,670,000.<ref name=RKO>{{cite book | title=The RKO Story | last1=Jewell | first1=Richard B. | last2=Harbin | first2=Vernon | publisher=Arlington House | year=1982 | place=New York | page=20 |ISBN=0-517-546566}}</ref>


==See also==
In Italy, the film is known as ''Jozelle Jazz Club''<ref name=Theiapolis/>
* [[List of early sound feature films (1926–1929)]]


==References==
==References==
Line 62: Line 82:


==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb title|id=0020458|title=Street Girl}}
* {{IMDb title|0020458}}
* {{Amg movie|112034|Street Girl}}
* {{AllMovie title|112034}}
* {{Tcmdb title|id=91693|title=Street Girl}}
* {{TCMDb title|91693}}
* {{AFI film|12458}}


{{Wesley Ruggles}}
{{Wesley Ruggles}}


[[Category:1920s musical films]]
[[Category:1920s romantic musical films]]
[[Category:1920s musical comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:1929 films]]
[[Category:1929 films]]
[[Category:Black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:American romantic musical films]]
[[Category:American musical comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:American romantic comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Films based on short fiction]]
[[Category:Films directed by Wesley Ruggles]]
[[Category:Films directed by Wesley Ruggles]]
[[Category:Films made before the MPAA Production Code]]
[[Category:Films set in New York City]]
[[Category:RKO Pictures films]]
[[Category:RKO Pictures films]]
[[Category:1920s comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Jane Murfin]]
[[Category:1920s romantic comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:1920s American films]]
[[Category:1920s English-language films]]
[[Category:English-language romantic comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:English-language musical comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:English-language romantic musical films]]
[[Category:1929 musical films]]

Revision as of 20:03, 2 December 2024

Street Girl
Magazine advertisement for Street Girl
Directed byWesley Ruggles
Written byJane Murfin
Based onThe Viennese Charmer
1928 Young's Magazine
by W. Carey Wonderly
Produced byA Wesley Ruggles Production
produced by
William LeBaron
Louis Sarecky (associate producer)
StarringBetty Compson
John Harron
Jack Oakie
CinematographyLeo Tover
Edited byAnn McKnight
William Hamilton
Music byOscar Levant
Sidney Clare
Production
companies
Distributed byRKO Distributing Corp'n.
Release dates
  • July 30, 1929 (1929-07-30) (Premiere-New York City)[1]
  • August 21, 1929 (1929-08-21) (US)[1]
Running time
87 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$211,000[2]
Box office$1,004,000[2]

Street Girl is a 1929 pre-Code musical film directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring Betty Compson, John Harron and Jack Oakie. It was adapted by Jane Murfin from "The Viennese Charmer", a short story by William Carey Wonderly. While it was the first film made by RKO Radio Pictures, its opening was delayed until after Syncopation, making it RKO's second release. It was very successful at the box office, accounting for almost half of RKO's profits for the entire year.[3]

Plot

The Four Seasons are a very good jazz quartet, but they perform in a New York City cafe for only $100 a week, forcing them to share a small, rundown apartment. The quartet consists of Joe Spring on clarinet, Pete Summer on accordion and guitar, Mike Fall on piano and trumpet, and an ever-pessimistic Happy Winter on violin.

On his way home one night, Mike drives off a man accosting a young blonde named Frederika Joyzelle. When she tells him she has not eaten in two days, he persuades her to share the group's dinner. She tells them that back in her homeland, she was a violinist. The highlight of her career given a command performance for her homeland's ruler, Prince Nicholaus of Aregon. Mike convinces his bandmates to allow "Freddie" to room with them for two weeks, after they discover she has no place to go. Freddie talks the band into asking for a raise to $200, but when they are turned down, they impulsively quit. Mike is further discouraged when they return to the apartment to find Freddie gone.

However, Freddie soon returns with great news. She has spent all day trying to convince Keppel, the owner of the well-known Little Aregon Cafe, to give the quartet a tryout. She finally succeeded, and at a salary of $300 a week. She gets a job there too, as a cigarette girl and part-time violinist. As time goes on, Mike falls in love with Freddie, but is unsure how she feels about him.

Prince Nicholaus of Aregon is in town, trying to arrange financing for his country. He and his entourage go to the cafe, much to Keppel's delight. When Freddie performs for him, he remembers her and kisses her on the forehead. The newspaper coverage of the kiss causes the cafe to skyrocket in popularity overnight. When a competitor of Keppel's asks the group to perform at his establishment, Keppel wins a bidding war by raising their wages to $3000 a week. This enables them to move into a much fancier apartment. However, the kiss also causes Mike to become jealous to the point of quitting the band.

The popularity of Keppel's cafe allows him to move into the larger "Club Joyzelle". With the help of Prince Nicholaus, Freddie and Mike are reunited in time for the grand opening. Even Happy, who is anything but, smiles as a result.

Cast

Reception

The film opened at New York City's Globe Theatre (now named the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre)[4] and earned over a million dollars for RKO.[5] It made $806,000 domestically and $198,000 overseas,[2] resulting in a profit of $800,000, almost half of RKO's total profit for the year of $1,670,000.[3]

Songs

  • "My Dream Memory" — Oscar Levant and Sidney Clare — Performed by Betty Compson on violin[6]
  • "Lovable and Sweet" — Oscar Levant and Sidney Clare — Performed by John Harron, Ned Sparks, Jack Oakie, and Guy Buccola[6]
  • "Broken Up Tune You're Doin' It" — Oscar Levant and Sidney Clare — Performed by Doris Eaton with Gus Arnheim band[6]

Remakes

Due to its initial success, Street Girl was remade by RKO twice. The first film, That Girl From Paris (1936), starred Lily Pons and Lucille Ball. The second, Four Jacks and a Jill (1942), starred Ray Bolger, Anne Shirley, and Desi Arnaz.[5][7] This was a rare coincidence in Hollywood where a husband and wife appeared in two different versions of the same film.

Notes

The March 1928 short story upon which the film is based originally appeared in Young's Magazine, and its title, "The Viennese Charmer", would indicate that Freddie's original homeland might have been Austria, but was fictionalized to Aregon for the film version.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Street Girl: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Richard Jewel, 'RKO Film Grosses: 1931-1951', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 14 No 1, 1994 p55
  3. ^ a b Jewell, Richard B.; Harbin, Vernon (1982). The RKO Story. New York: Arlington House. p. 20. ISBN 0-517-546566.
  4. ^ Crafton, Donald (1999). The Talkies: American Cinema's Transition to Sound, 1926-1931. University of California Press. pp. 160. ISBN 0-520-22128-1.
  5. ^ a b Bradley, Edwin M. (2004). The First Hollywood Musicals: A Critical Filmography of 171 Features, 1927 Through 1932. McFarland. p. 51. ISBN 0-7864-2029-4.
  6. ^ a b c "Street Girl: Technical Details". theiapolis.com. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Street Girl: Articles". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
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