The Playboy (1938) DVD-R

Starring Bert Ambrose, Evelyn Dall, Harry Richman, Florence Desmond, Hal Thompson
Directed by Walter Forde

Print: Black and White
Runtime: 78 min.
Genre: Drama

This British musical comedy was designed as a vehicle for popular 1930s bandleader Ambrose, here cast as "himself". The plot, which was the handiwork of no fewer than four scenarists, is the old one about the pretty but unappreciated slavey (Evelyn Dall) who is suddenly and spectacularly thrust into high society, much to the discomfort of her evil guardian. In other words, it's Cinderella in modern dress. But never mind all that: the film's real attraction is its unending parade of specialty performers. American jazz singer Harry Richman may be a bit hard to take for contemporary audiences (he wasn't exactly everyone's favorite in 1938!), but celebrity impressionist Florence Desmond is as delightful as ever as the film's nominal villain. Far better produced than most British "revue" pictures of the era, Kicking the Moon Around did excellent business, but Ambrose didn't care much for moviemaking and returned to the nightclub and music-hall circuit.