Plantiana
Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.
Exoticalot
People are voting emotionally.
ClassyWas
Excellent, smart action film.
Lollivan
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
MikeMagi
There are two impressions that come across in "Going Hollywood." Despite Orson Welles' caricature of a Marion Davies clone in "Citizen Kane," the real Ms. Davies was a first-rate actress, a bright, brash comedic talent. As for Bing Crosby, he had that easy, carefree manner even back in 1934 although his singing style -- a deep, rich vibrato -- hadn't yet given way to crooning. The plot of "Going Hollywood" is admittedly tissue-thin. Davies is a schoolmarm who falls in love with radio personality Crosby sight unseen, heads for Hollywood and is inadvertently tapped to be his next co-star.Today, no self-respecting screenwriter would pile up as many coincidences as there are in their wildly improbable love affair. But it was another, more innocent time -- and if you're willing to suspend reality, you'll find "Going Hollywood" surprisingly entertaining.
blanche-2
Marion Davies is a young woman who quits her job as a teacher and is content to chase a singer (Bing Crosby) in "Going Hollywood," a 1934 film also starring Stuart Erwin, Fifi D'Orsay, Patsy Kelly and Ned Sparks. Davies fancies herself in love with a crooner and follows him to LA, where he's about to make a picture with a temperamental French actress (D'Orsay) who is also his current girlfriend.Before becoming the singer of "White Christmas," Bing Crosby was an innovative performer, the first so-called "legit" singer to cross over into popular song. At one point in his career, Crosby actually was offered the title role in Verdi's "Rigoletto." Hearing him in the '20s and '30s, it's easy to understand why. Though Crosby's voice was always fluid and beautiful, he was less easygoing and took many more vocal risks back in the day, as evidenced in this film. The robustness with which he sang, and his beautiful high notes are sensational. The most striking number he does is "Temptation" with the camera focusing from time to time on a close-up of D'Orsay's face. The film is nearly all music, but nothing as good as "Temptation": "Our Big Love Scene," "Beautiful Girl," "Just an Echo in the Valley," etc.There is a wonderful scene done by the Radio Rogues, who play techs in the film where they improvise a radio program that references stars of the era such as Morton Downey, Russ Columbo, Rudy Vallee and Kate Smith.Marion Davies at this point was 36 - way, way, over the hill for a lead actress in those days - and she requested both Crosby and D'Orsay to be in the film. Hearst didn't want either one and had Lili Damita in mind for the D'Orsay role. He relented when others told him Crosby would be good for Davies' career. Though Davies will eternally get a bad rap because of the untalented Susan in "Citizen Kane," she was in fact a lovely actress and a very good comedienne. She couldn't sing and her dancing was from the Ruby Keeler Hoofer School - but I actually found her lighter on her feet than Keeler. That obviously was a style of tap back in those days that thankfully is gone.This is a very entertaining film, and if you want to hear Crosby at his finest, this is one of the films that is a must. He is remembered as a wonderful singer and successful actor today, but in actuality, his contribution to music was much greater than is realized now.
Incalculacable
Sylvia Bruce (Marion Davies) is a bored French teacher but after hearing the melodious sounds of the famous Bill Williams (Bing Crosby) on the radio, she is so inspired she leaves her job and seeks her dream.Going Hollywood is a rather odd movie as there is the disturbing fact that Marion Davies' character is practically a stalker who insists that their love is meant to be. I can usually accept the fact that it's just a movie - it doesn't have to be realistic, but I just felt her character was a bit of a nut case. I hate to say it but Davies is most unconvincing and it is almost painful to see her scenes. I was disappointed to see this because she was magnificent in silents. That being said, Marion is undoubtedly gorgeous and has a few good moments (and she's not a bad dancer too)... but not nearly enough as there should be.It is evident that Bing Crosby and the music are the real stars of this picture. He steals every scene from Davies with effortless delivery. The music - especially "Temptation", "Going Hollywood" and "Beautiful Girl" are absolutely delightful little tunes and make the movie well worth watching.Overall, a bizarre and often tedious movie and Davies isn't at her best. However handsome crooner Bing Crosby and the fantastic music by Arthur Freed and Herb Brown steal the show and make it watchable. Does not compare to the other musicals of this period.
C.K. Dexter Haven
No story. No substance. No point. Crosby croons some though and that's always worth hearing, but this production is dappled with musical numbers that, though entertaining unto themselves, get in the way of the the hackneyed romance between Crosby and Marion Davies.Marion Davies is not nearly as bad as some comments here suggest. She's adequate as the female lead but still not overly memorable. Nothing about this picture apart from the music really stays in the mind after you see it. And even that doesn't linger long.A curious look at early 30's Hollywood, and Bing on the way up as a song and dance dynamo, but little else to recommend it. One of those so-called classics that makes a good sleep aid.