I think this is a lovely number. It is not racist. Would you call Anthony Quinn "racist" because he played a Greek in Zorba when in real life he was Mexican? Puh-lease! Actors are paid to ACT, that can mean playing a cardboard box if called for! lol!
The problems date from the original, where the colour shots were done on 65 mm film stock, printed down to 35mm for smaller theatres, and often not in color apparently, you had to travel to a city to see it in color at a major theatre. Most surviving prints are from the 35mm versions without color, also edited down to go with other films, not on it's own as intended.
You're right. The tune is good. It's the words that let it down. Surely the situation suggests it should have been a Love Serenade, not a warning about keeping your valuables secure?
Why on earth is this fantastic number NOT included in the 'Warner Home Archive' version of 'Show Of Shows' DVD? My official copy on DVD of 'Show Of Shows' has no Technicolor in it at all and certainly does NOT include this number? In fact the Warner version only runs for 64 minutes! 'Show Of Shows' apparently original ran for 128 minutes, which is well over two hours, so does anyone know why they have cut out an entire hour; and not included any Technicolor when it obviously still exists?
@Davidalp1 - You have a corrupted version of this film. The Warner Archive made a bad batch of the Show of Shows that runs almost an hour short, and this is part of the missing footage. Many people complained only to receive ANOTHER wrong hour long version! This is the shoddy quality (and overpricing) that the Archive has come to be known for. Not even bothering to MAKE SURE that customers did not get a second bad cut of this interesting old early talkie revue.
Nice 2-Strip Technicolor. Although the material is horribly dated (somewhat racist) the costumes and set are beautiful. Myrna Loy dances quite well, but it's not her forte.
How did Nick Lucas get lumbered with Leap-o Lee? Compared to this, Tiptoe through the Tulips is a Shakespeare Sonnet. Love the colours though, and the patterns formed by girls on ladders is worthy of Busby Berkeley.
@cooloperetta I think it's a catchy tune. And why do people say a number like this is racist? It's beautifully done and is not denigrating Asian people at all. A racist number would put them down and claim they were less superior to white people. That's not happening here.
The Shows of Shows was Warners answer to MGM, and Mayer more personally, to show they could go one better all round. They used new stages, the latest lighting, and a very large budget, which only just paid off, but drove MGM to waste a lot of money on Musicals that failed to impress and lost MGM money.
Is it just wishful thinking on my part or didn't the two "blue lotus" girls at center stage behind Loy and "yellowface Jewish tenor guy" at 3:30 look ASIAN.
WTF, how did two slant-eyes end-up in a Hollywood Production calling for a hundred dancing Chinese girls?
Did they run out of fat-assed European American girls made-up to within a inch of their life to look Chinee?
Truly, only the talented and liberal-minded Loy makes this watchable.
I think this is a lovely number. It is not racist. Would you call Anthony Quinn "racist" because he played a Greek in Zorba when in real life he was Mexican? Puh-lease! Actors are paid to ACT, that can mean playing a cardboard box if called for! lol!
GoldenSilents 1 month ago
The problems date from the original, where the colour shots were done on 65 mm film stock, printed down to 35mm for smaller theatres, and often not in color apparently, you had to travel to a city to see it in color at a major theatre. Most surviving prints are from the 35mm versions without color, also edited down to go with other films, not on it's own as intended.
swallin19 3 months ago
Ken Russel pays homage to the ladders number in his 70's movie "The Boyfriend" which I have!
Ianey11 7 months ago
OK, OK, OK, call me crazy but I loved the ladders and girls climbing up and down. Yea, I'm crazy, but I still loved it.
torrents4u2c 8 months ago
You're right. The tune is good. It's the words that let it down. Surely the situation suggests it should have been a Love Serenade, not a warning about keeping your valuables secure?
cooloperetta 10 months ago
Why on earth is this fantastic number NOT included in the 'Warner Home Archive' version of 'Show Of Shows' DVD? My official copy on DVD of 'Show Of Shows' has no Technicolor in it at all and certainly does NOT include this number? In fact the Warner version only runs for 64 minutes! 'Show Of Shows' apparently original ran for 128 minutes, which is well over two hours, so does anyone know why they have cut out an entire hour; and not included any Technicolor when it obviously still exists?
Davidalp1 10 months ago
@Davidalp1 - You have a corrupted version of this film. The Warner Archive made a bad batch of the Show of Shows that runs almost an hour short, and this is part of the missing footage. Many people complained only to receive ANOTHER wrong hour long version! This is the shoddy quality (and overpricing) that the Archive has come to be known for. Not even bothering to MAKE SURE that customers did not get a second bad cut of this interesting old early talkie revue.
calvinnme2 4 months ago
Nice 2-Strip Technicolor. Although the material is horribly dated (somewhat racist) the costumes and set are beautiful. Myrna Loy dances quite well, but it's not her forte.
errolfan 1 year ago
How did Nick Lucas get lumbered with Leap-o Lee? Compared to this, Tiptoe through the Tulips is a Shakespeare Sonnet. Love the colours though, and the patterns formed by girls on ladders is worthy of Busby Berkeley.
cooloperetta 1 year ago
@cooloperetta I think it's a catchy tune. And why do people say a number like this is racist? It's beautifully done and is not denigrating Asian people at all. A racist number would put them down and claim they were less superior to white people. That's not happening here.
GoldenSilents 10 months ago
@GoldenSilents you dumbbb
kbaj0 3 months ago
@kbaj0 Look who is talking: you can't even write correctly.
GoldenSilents 1 month ago
For 1929, the quality and color is excellent.
theultimatekoopa2 2 years ago
1:10 -- wow. A long way from Nora Charles.
From the looks of this, it is a shame MGM never took the opportunity to photograph Myrna in three strip Technicolor.
soulierinvestments 2 years ago 2
A dream of exotic ideals and soft colors... thanks a lot for posting this delightful masterpiece!
EduarquiRJ 2 years ago
The Shows of Shows was Warners answer to MGM, and Mayer more personally, to show they could go one better all round. They used new stages, the latest lighting, and a very large budget, which only just paid off, but drove MGM to waste a lot of money on Musicals that failed to impress and lost MGM money.
swallin19 2 years ago
Uh . . . wow.
oobleckboy 2 years ago 3
Is it just wishful thinking on my part or didn't the two "blue lotus" girls at center stage behind Loy and "yellowface Jewish tenor guy" at 3:30 look ASIAN.
WTF, how did two slant-eyes end-up in a Hollywood Production calling for a hundred dancing Chinese girls?
Did they run out of fat-assed European American girls made-up to within a inch of their life to look Chinee?
Truly, only the talented and liberal-minded Loy makes this watchable.
Orientalism at it's expensive worst.
kronoscorvinus 2 years ago
First of all, Nick Lucas was Italian
Second of all, watch your damn mouth!
jvbrown1995 2 years ago 7
Comment removed
kronoscorvinus 2 years ago
This is one of the best examples of two-color Technicolor I've ever seen! Thank you for posting this!
SignOffsGuy 2 years ago 3
Thank you for bring here this delight in such a good form. It is a pleasure to find a charming Myrna Loy in this incredible fantasy!
Masquerade03 2 years ago 2
They didn't do anything small in 1929, did they? These early musicals are so much fun.
fabulbabe 2 years ago 3
amazing!!!
Bobolink03 2 years ago 3
Fun!
tvc15tvc15 2 years ago 3
Very good. Picture and Sound quality really great.
stewartgas 2 years ago 8