Wednesday, September 10, 2014

The Show of Shows (1929)


Warner Bros.
Directed by John G. Adolfi
My rating: 1.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Turner Classic Movies)

Long, tedious parade of stage acts, featuring mostly dancing girls in elaborately choreographed and synchronized routines. Frank Fay is the master of ceremonies, and he does manage to keep things afloat with some deft comedy. One sequence, a "Chinese Fantasy", is in color to provide a break from the monotony. The last couple of acts become almost surreal, including John Barrymore's soliloquy from Richard III, which looks like it comes from a different movie altogether, and another elaborate dance piece featuring human chandeliers.

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