Champagne Waltz (1937) DVD-R

Starring Gladys Swarthout, Fred MacMurray, Jack Oakie, Veloz, Yolanda,
Herman Bing
Directed by A. Edward Sutherland

Print: black/white
Runtime: 85 min.
Genre: comedy
Print Quality: B

Another of Paramount's efforts to transform Metropolitan Opera diva
Gladys Swarthout into a popular movie star, Champagne Waltz casts
Swarthout as Elsa Strauss, the daughter of a celebrated Viennese
composer (Fritz Leiber). American bandleader Buzzy Bellew (Fred
MacMurray) and his aggregation invade Vienna with their own special
repertoire of melodies, and before long the Austrian capital has
abandoned waltzes in favor of jazz. With her family's waltz palace in
danger of going out of business, Elsa heads next door to Buzzy's
establishment, hoping to persuade him to pack up and go home. Not
unexpectedly, the two fall in love (he even teaches her the art of chewing
gum), leading to a harmonious "marriage" of musical genres (intended as
the film's highlight, this climactic scene was mercilessly raked over the
coals by the movie critics of the era). Jack Oakie's performance as Happy
Gallagher does much to lift this predictable tune fest from the ordinary.