Huievest
Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.
John T. Ryan
WE CAN WELL remember thinking of what a great movie that it would be to have something with a title like THE 3 STOOGES MEET THE MARX BROTHERS (or visa-versa with the billing). This writer was about 11 or 12 years old at the time; not realizing the impossibility of such a teaming. The movie would call for having the heart of the Stooges Act (Curly Howard)being brought back to life and even though all of the Marx Brothers were still with us, they were all busy with their own projects and had surely been slowed down by both Mother Nature and Father Time.HAVING ALL OF the principals aforementioned could well have appeared in this HOLLWOOD PARTY (MGM. 1934)had it been made in the following Anno Domini 1935. This was the first year of the the MGM-Marx Alliance; the Boys having been given pink-slips from Paramount following a poor Box Office showing from their feature, DUCK SOUP (Paramount, 1933). The absurd notion of teaming them would not have materialized; but at least, they would be in the same cast, without sharing any scenes.THE PROJECT THAT did materialize was not much less absurd than my childhood brainstorm; although it did have the the advantage of having the use of the vast and impressive MGM stable of contract players. This was an array of talent once referred to as having: "More Stars Than There Are In Heaven!" THIS MOST DISJOINTED and disorganized cinematic romp was not what one could call a total misfire; but it did prove that it takes more than just a lot of on screen "Stars" to make for a hit, let alone a critically approved (if not acclaimed) movie. As the story (such as it is) unfolds, we are plagued by just one question. WHY? WHY,INDEED DID such an undertaking escape out of MGM's entertainment factory and get into the Real (not Reel) World? ON THE RATHER slim, positive side of things, like just about any movie (except maybe DONDI), there are some likable and positive elements here. For one, the unbilled presence of Ted Healy and the Three Stooges (a very youthful Howar-Fine-Howard combo). They make the most of their thin, nearly thread-bare scene as movie fans seeking autographs. Their then mentor/punishment dispenser, Ted Healy, portrays an also unbilled newspaper reporter.THE APPEARANCE OF veteran stage comedian, Jack Pearl, portraying his perennially very Germanic Baron Munchausen, proves to be very amusing and a true bright spot in the dismal proceedings. This is conditionally endorsed as a positive, considering that the Baron is minus long time straight man, Cliff Hall*, and seems completely out of synch with even this bizarre storyline.IN A SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT with Walt Disney, there is an odd inclusion of MICKEY MOUSE and a special Technicolor short cartoon, HOT CHOCOLATE SOLDIERS.** This is very enjoyable, but even with Mickey's popularity, it only adds to the peculiarity of the film.IT DOOES APPEAR that the movie may well have been primarily a vehicle to both promote and exploit Mr. Durante. Jimmy had been touted as the embodiment of the "New Breed" of Comedians for the Sound Era; but did experience some setback following an unsuccessful teaming with the Silent Screen's "Great Stone Face", Buster Keaton.FOR OUR MONEY, the very best element of the movie is the sequence featuring Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy locked in an egg smashing mêlée with the Mexican Spitfire herself, Lupe Velez. It is basic,inspired and perfectly timed and played. The whole bit is pure "Reciprocal Destruction" and classic Laurel & Hardy at its best.THIS "RECIPROCAL DESTRUCTION" shtick was developed by Leo McCarrey and his boss, Producer & Studio Head, Hal Roach. The principal is in evidence in so many of the various classic L & H comedies; as well as in those of Charley Chase, Thelma Todd/Zasu Pitts/Patsy Kelly and others, even OUR GANG. The "Reciprocal Destruction" mode basically turns many an older idea of break-neck speed application of a multitude of gaffs and slow things down; allowing the 'milking' of one single gag into a multitude of laughs.ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, this movie, MGM's Hollywood PARTY, is one that we all should see, at least once-if only for the first hand experience.NOTE: * Mr. Cliff Hall did some early TV work, later in his career. He portrayed Horatio Frisby on the JOHNNY JUPITER kids series; but is best remembered as the Head Racoon to Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton's Racoon Lodge on THE HONEYMOONERS Series. NOTE: ** The appearance of Mickey Mouse, as well as the HOT CHOCOLATE SOLDIERS sequence do not appear in some of the older TV prints of the movie and in some early VHS copies. This was due to their copyright owner, Disney, wouldn't allow them to be used beyond the original, theatrical showings. We presume that some $$$$ rectified the situation.
Michael_Elliott
Hollywood Party (1934) ** (out of 4) Jimmy Durante plays an actor best known for his wannabe Tarzan character known as Schnarzan. People quit going to see his jungle movies because the lions look fake so Durante decides to buy some new ones by throwing a Hollywood party to get the lion owners to his house. This is a very hit and miss film from MGM, which was suppose to have been a film full of A-list cameos but instead had its budget cut to the point where we get mostly second hand actors, although The Three Stooges and Laurel an Hardy show up. There are several musical numbers as well but they're all rather cheap and boring as are the dance numbers. Durante gives it his best but doesn't really have any good scenes until the very end when he must fight a lion. It's obvious that it's a double doing the fighting but this scene is rather shocking at how brutal and realistic it is. The Three Stooges have a fairly funny bit as three scientists debate on which one is closest to a neanderthal man. Laurel and Hardy also have a funny bit with actress Lupe Velez where the three break eggs on one another. Velez is actually the main reason to see this film as she walks around in an extremely provocative dress that shows off the best curves in her body. These scenes certainly got in just before the Hayes Office took over as she comes off very sexy in her role. There's an earlier scene that features some tease nudity sequences with women undressing and getting ready for the party. Mickey Mouse also shows up to spoof Durante and after saying all of this you'd think it was a good movie but it's not. The majority of the film is just endless skits with the majority of them not working. Even at 68-minutes the film seems overly long so in the end only fans of any of the stars should check this out.
dbborroughs
Big budget movie concerning Jimmy Durante throwing a party so that Baron Munchhausen will let him use his killer lions in an up coming entry in his Schnarzan series. Various stars show up and sing and dance.Scatter-shot- and I do mean scatter-shot musical comedy showcasing many of MGM's lesser stars. Its a good segment followed by a poor, a great throw away line followed by a poor one. Huge production numbers are done to mediocre songs. Its an odd ball affair that I picked up on a used VHS tape because its the only film I know that has both Laurel and Hardy and the Three Stooges (who were still working with Ted Healy). Stan and Ollie, who's pictures are on the sleeve of the tape don't show up until about 55 minutes into the film. They are very good, but no match for Lupe Valez who runs over them and everyone else she comes in contact with. She is the best human in the film.(She was a great actress with the right part).The Stooges show up about 35 minutes in and play autograph hounds trying to get signatures.they are good but their bit is simply too short to really work.Of real interest (and the best thing besides Velez) is the appearance of Mickey Mouse. This is a cantankerous Mickey who gets into a fight with Durante before singing a song which leads into an animated segment called Hot Chocolate Soldiers.This is a light song about a chocolate soldier army going to war against gingerbread people.The images are rather dark and nasty and had I been a kid the whole thing might have given me nightmares.(or not since the darkness comes from knowing what war is, which as a child I wouldn't have understood as well.) Its an strange piece that like much of the film doesn't fit with anything else.(It also seems more like a Fleischer or Van Buren cartoon as opposed to a Disney one.Worth a look on TV, but not as something to search out, odds are anyone loving old movies or cartoons will find something to like (even as they find much to dislike). 5 out of 10 for the good and the bad.
Boba_Fett1138
This really is a movie with a story you just couldn't care less about.The movie had some good potential, with a couple of at that time well known actors appearing at a Hollywood party. Sounds like enough material to make a fun and good movie with. The movie however isn't that much fun as you would expect. It's totally uninteresting to follow, with a bunch of characters and different love stories you just don't care about. The movie gets still fun and is somewhat saved toward the ending of the movie when Mickey Mouse and Laurel & Hardy appear in the movie (yeah a weird combination I known).The movie also features some horrible and typical signing and dancing routines that don't seem to end and at times go on for over 5 minutes. You know, songs that always sound the same and are about cheerful things, with lines that don't even sound musically. Thank goodness for the fast forward button.It's a real waste of some good potential and some good actors. Obviously Laurel & Hardy are underused, also because at the beginning of the movie they are falsely presented as two of the main characters. Jimmy Durante is a good and fun actor but it just isn't enough to spice things up in the movie. Guess that the highlight of the movie really is the animated chocolate soldiers sequence, presented by Mickey Mouse himself, who also gives a pretty good Jimmy Durante imitation.The move could had been so much more fun to watch but it still definitely has some moments in it that makes this movie a still perfectly watchable one.6/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
