Leathernecking

• Ken Murray: Fank
• Louise Fazenda: Hortense
• Ned Sparks: Sparks
• Lilyan Tashman: Edna
• Eddie Foy Jr.: Chick Evans

Leathernecking is a movie musical from 1930, in which Irene Dunne gives her screen debut. The film is based on the stage play Present Arms by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart. Today there are no more copies of Leathernecking.

Action

The young recruit Chick Evans is stationed with the U.S. Navy in Honolulu. One evening he steals the gala uniform of his Captains and thus gains access to a company. There he falls in love with the dolphins Witherspoon. Later, the two pull back on the yacht of Witherspoon. A storm comes up and can capsize the boat. Dolphins and Chick found on a tropical island again. Hardly rescued, recognizes dolphins, how much she loves chick.

Background

Irene Dunne had come early 1930 with a contract with the newly formed film company RKO to Hollywood. She had already gained some experience as a singer, most recently in a production of Show Boat in Chicago. The studio saw Dunne a talented vocal artist and put them in her debut in the film adaptation of Present Arms, a musical by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart in 1928 a. With the advent of sound film, the genre of the musical was one of the most profitable innovations. At the same time, the oversupply in early 1930 led to partly second-and third-class productions to a rapid oversaturation of the market. So also Leathernecking was after the premiere only a modest success at the box office. The studio planned immediately after Dunne in the film version of Victor Herbert's operetta Babes in Toyland next to the popular comedians Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey and Edna May Oliver use. However, the general apathy of the public towards music films led to discontinuation of preparations. Irene Dunne worked instead with Cimarron and managed in this dramatic roles breakthrough as a star.

Today there are no more copies of Leathernecking.

Songs

As the story progresses the following songs were interpreted:

• "You Took Advantage of Me"
• "A Kiss for Cinderella"
• "All My Life"
• " Careless Kisses"
• " Evening Star "
• " Brightly Nice And So Peculiar "
• "Shake It Off and Smile "