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{{short description|1931 film}}
⚫
{{Infobox Film
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}}
| name = Fanny Foley Herself (1931)
⚫
{{Infobox film
| image = FannyFoleyHerself2.jpg
| image_size =
| name = Fanny Foley Herself
| caption =
| image = FannyFoleyHerselfPoster.jpg

| caption = Theatrical poster for film
| director = [[Melville W. Brown]]
| director = [[Melville W. Brown]]
| producer = [[John E. Burch]] <small>(supervisor)</small><ref name=AFI/><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=41 |isbn=0-517-546566}}</ref>
| producer = [[John E. Burch]]
| writer = [[Bernard Schubert]] <br> [[Carey Wilson]]<br> based on the story by <br> [[Juliet Wilbur Tompkins]]
| writer = [[Juliet Wilbor Tompkins]] <small>(story)</small><br>[[Carey Wilson (writer)|Carey Wilson]] <small>(adaptation & dialogue)</small><br>[[Bernard Schubert]] <small>(add'l dialogue)</small>
| narrator =
| narrator =
| starring = [[Edna May Oliver]][[Helen Chandler]][[Hobart Bosworth]][[John Darrow]][[Rochelle Hudson]][[Robert Emmett O'Connor]] [[Florence Roberts]] [[Harry Stubbs]]
| starring = [[Edna May Oliver]]<br>[[Helen Chandler]]<br>[[John Darrow]]
| music = [[Max Steiner]]
| music = [[Max Steiner]]
| cinematography = [[Ray Rennahan]] ''([[Technicolor]])''
| cinematography = [[Ray Rennahan]]
| editing =
| editing =
| distributor = [[Radio Pictures]]
| studio = [[RKO Radio Pictures]]
| distributor = RKO Radio Pictures
| released = [[October 10]],[[1931]]
| released = {{Film date|1931|10|10}}
| runtime = 73 minutes
| runtime = 73 minutes
| country = {{USA}}
| country = United States
| language = [[English language|English]]
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| website =
| amg_id =
| imdb_id = 0021850
}}
}}


'''''Fanny Foley Herself''''' ([[1931 in film|1931]]) is an All-Talking comedy drama that was photographed entirely in [[Technicolor]]. The film was the second feature to be filmed a new Technicolor process which removed grain and resulted in a much improved color. It was released under the title of "Top of the Bill" in Britain.
'''''Fanny Foley Herself''''' is a 1931 American [[pre-Code]] [[comedy-drama film]] shot entirely in [[Technicolor]]. The film was the second feature to be filmed using a new Technicolor process, which removed grain and resulted in improved color. It was released under the title '''''Top of the Bill''''' in Britain. It survives in a complete Technicolor copy under that title at the BFI.

==Plot==
⚫
[[Edna May Oliver]] plays a widowed woman with two daughters ([[Helen Chandler]], [[Rochelle Hudson]]) who attempts to revive her career as a [[vaudeville]] performer. Her wealthy father-in-law, who believes that a vaudeville performer is not fit to bring up children properly, forces her to choose between her daughters or her career. In the end, all is forgiven and the father-in-law asks Fanny to sing one of her songs.

==Cast==
* [[Edna May Oliver]] as Fanny Foley
* [[Hobart Bosworth]] as Seely
* [[Florence Roberts]] as Lucy
* [[Rochelle Hudson]] as Carmen
* [[Helen Chandler]] as Lenore
* [[John Darrow]] as Teddy
* [[Robert Emmett O'Connor]] as Burns
* [[Harry Stubbs (actor)|Harry Stubbs]] as Crosby

(cast list as per [[American Film Institute|AFI]] database)<ref name=AFI>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=6961|publisher=American Film Institute|title=Fanny Foley Herself|accessdate=January 31, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403091533/http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=6961|archivedate=April 3, 2014}}</ref>

==Production background==
*As a result of the quality of the color work in ''[[The Runaround (1931 film)|The Runaround]]'' (1931), Radio Pictures decided to produce three more pictures in the improved Technicolor process.<ref>Los Angeles Times; September 13, 1931; Page B13.</ref> Only ''Fanny Foley Herself'' was completed and released in Technicolor. The titles of the two other features were ''Marcheta'' and ''[[Bird of Paradise (1932 film)|Bird of Paradise]]''. ''Marcheta'' seems to have been abandoned, while ''Bird of Paradise'' was changed into a black-and-white production starring [[Dolores del Río]] and [[Joel McCrea]].
*This was Edna May Oliver's first appearance in color. She appeared in color only once more, in the 1939 film ''[[Drums Along the Mohawk]]''. She did not appear in the Technicolor sequences of ''[[The American Venus]]'' (1926).
*This was Helen Chandler's only appearance in a color film. She did not appear in the color sequences of ''[[Radio Parade of 1935]]'' (1934). She may have appeared in the color sequences of the silent film ''[[The Joy Girl]]'' (1927). This film, rumored to exist at the [[Museum of Modern Art]], is unavailable for inspection.

==Reception==
In October 1931, ''The New York Times'' said, "There are greenish skies, steel-tinted nights, amber lights, frocks and gowns of pastel shades, most of this prismatic work being quite well done. But whether it is, on the whole, more effective than black and white is a matter of opinion."<ref name=AFI/>

⚫
==Preservation status==
A complete copy of the film (with the British title) survives in the BFI archive.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmItems/152906422 | title=Collections Search &#124; BFI &#124; British Film Institute }}</ref> A trailer of 200&nbsp;ft also survives.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}


==Synopsis==
==See also==
*[[List of early color feature films]]
[[Image:FannyFoleyHerself.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Screen shot from the film.]]
⚫
Edna May Oliver plays the part of a widowed woman with two daughters (Helen Chandler, Rochelle Hudson) who attempts to revive her career as a vaudeville performer. The wealthy father-in-law, who believes that a vaudeville performer is not fit to bring up children properly, forces her to choose between her daughters or her career. He convinces her to give them up, and as a result she alienates both girls. Fanny Foley's true colors come through in the end, when she braves an airplane ride through a driving storm and makes a perilous parachute jump when she is led to believe that her daughter Carmen (Rochelle Hudson) has been sexually compromised by a cad. The fact that Carmen is living blissfully and respectfully with hubby Teddy (John Darrow) does not alter the fact that Fanny has proven her devotion to her daughters. In the end, the all is forgiven and the old father-in-law asks Fanny to sing one of her songs.


==Trivia==
==References==
<references/>
*The color work was universally praised by reviewers for its pleasing and soft colors.


==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0021850}}
*{{AFI film|6961}}


{{Melville W. Brown}}
⚫
==Preservation==
The film is believed to be lost. No elements, either of the film or the soundtrack, are known to survive.


[[Category:1931 films]]
[[Category:1931 films]]
[[Category:Films made before the MPAA Production Code]]
[[Category:1930s color films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Technicolor]]
[[Category:1931 lost films]]
[[Category:Lost films]]
[[Category:Lost American comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:RKO films]]
[[Category:Films about entertainers]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:English-language comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:RKO Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films about theatre]]
[[Category:1931 comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Melville W. Brown]]
[[Category:Early color films]]
[[Category:1930s English-language films]]
[[Category:1930s American films]]

Latest revision as of 19:02, 20 December 2023

Fanny Foley Herself
Theatrical poster for film
Directed byMelville W. Brown
Written byJuliet Wilbor Tompkins (story)
Carey Wilson (adaptation & dialogue)
Bernard Schubert (add'l dialogue)
Produced byJohn E. Burch (supervisor)[1][2]
StarringEdna May Oliver
Helen Chandler
John Darrow
CinematographyRay Rennahan
Music byMax Steiner
Production
company
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release date
  • October 10, 1931 (1931-10-10)
Running time
73 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Fanny Foley Herself is a 1931 American pre-Code comedy-drama film shot entirely in Technicolor. The film was the second feature to be filmed using a new Technicolor process, which removed grain and resulted in improved color. It was released under the title Top of the Bill in Britain. It survives in a complete Technicolor copy under that title at the BFI.

Plot

[edit]

Edna May Oliver plays a widowed woman with two daughters (Helen Chandler, Rochelle Hudson) who attempts to revive her career as a vaudeville performer. Her wealthy father-in-law, who believes that a vaudeville performer is not fit to bring up children properly, forces her to choose between her daughters or her career. In the end, all is forgiven and the father-in-law asks Fanny to sing one of her songs.

Cast

[edit]

(cast list as per AFI database)[1]

Production background

[edit]
  • As a result of the quality of the color work in The Runaround (1931), Radio Pictures decided to produce three more pictures in the improved Technicolor process.[3] Only Fanny Foley Herself was completed and released in Technicolor. The titles of the two other features were Marcheta and Bird of Paradise. Marcheta seems to have been abandoned, while Bird of Paradise was changed into a black-and-white production starring Dolores del Río and Joel McCrea.
  • This was Edna May Oliver's first appearance in color. She appeared in color only once more, in the 1939 film Drums Along the Mohawk. She did not appear in the Technicolor sequences of The American Venus (1926).
  • This was Helen Chandler's only appearance in a color film. She did not appear in the color sequences of Radio Parade of 1935 (1934). She may have appeared in the color sequences of the silent film The Joy Girl (1927). This film, rumored to exist at the Museum of Modern Art, is unavailable for inspection.

Reception

[edit]

In October 1931, The New York Times said, "There are greenish skies, steel-tinted nights, amber lights, frocks and gowns of pastel shades, most of this prismatic work being quite well done. But whether it is, on the whole, more effective than black and white is a matter of opinion."[1]

Preservation status

[edit]

A complete copy of the film (with the British title) survives in the BFI archive.[4] A trailer of 200 ft also survives.[citation needed]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Fanny Foley Herself". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 3, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  2. ^ Jewell, Richard B.; Harbin, Vernon (1982). The RKO Story. New York: Arlington House. p. 41. ISBN 0-517-546566.
  3. ^ Los Angeles Times; September 13, 1931; Page B13.
  4. ^ "Collections Search | BFI | British Film Institute".
[edit]
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