History Film / TheHollywoodRevueOf1929

* TheHost: Creator/JackBenny and Conrad Nagel, officially billed as "masters of ceremonies", introduce the various acts.

The film is essentially a feature-length {{variety show}}, filled with sketch performances and musical numbers featuring almost every major star under contract to MGM at the time, nearly all of whom were making their talking film debut. While a box-office smash in its time, and as mentioned an early Oscar nominee, the film is now remembered chiefly as a curio and as a snapshot of Hollywood in transition. Some of the cast members thrived with the coming of sound pictures (Creator/JoanCrawford, Creator/LaurelAndHardy, Creator/NormaShearer), while others saw their careers go right down the toilet (Creator/JohnGilbert, William Haines, Karl Dane, Creator/BusterKeaton).

Besides its AllStarCast, the film is probably best remembered for featuring the classic song "Singin' in the Rain" (which was introduced on stage in ''The Hollywood Music Box Revue'' earlier that same year, and predates the film ''Film/SinginInTheRain'' by over 20 years).

Creator/WarnerBros quickly responded with ''Show of Shows'', which served the same purpose. The only differences are that WB was the first studio to embrace talkies and its film was shot almost entirely in Technicolor.

The film is essentially a feature-length {{variety show}}, filled with sketch performances and musical numbers featuring almost every major star under contract to MGM at the time, nearly all of whom were making their talking film debut. While a box-office smash, and as mentioned an early Oscar nominee, the film is now remembered chiefly as a curio and as a snapshot of Hollywood in transition. Some of the cast members thrived with the coming of sound pictures (Creator/JoanCrawford, Creator/LaurelAndHardy, Creator/NormaShearer), while others saw their careers go right down the toilet (Creator/JohnGilbert, William Haines, Karl Dane, Creator/BusterKeaton).

* TheVoiceless: In Laurel and Hardy's skit, Stan remains silent.

Besides its AllStarCast, the film is best remembered for featuring the song "Singin' in the Rain" (which was introduced on stage earlier that same year in ''The Hollywood Music Box Revue'', and predates the film ''Film/SinginInTheRain'' by over 20 years).

Besides the AllStarCast, the film is best remembered for featuring the song "Singin' in the Rain" (which was introduced on stage earlier that same year in ''The Hollywood Music Box Revue'', and predates the film ''Film/SinginInTheRain'' by over 20 years).

The film is essentially a feature-length {{variety show}}, filled with sketch performances and musical numbers featuring almost every major star under contract to MGM at that time, nearly all of them making their talking film debut. While a box-office smash in its day, the film is now remembered chiefly as a curio and as a snapshot of Hollywood in transition. Some of the cast members thrived with the coming of sound pictures (Creator/JoanCrawford, Creator/LaurelAndHardy, Creator/NormaShearer), while others saw their careers go right down the toilet (Creator/JohnGilbert, William Haines, Karl Dane, Creator/BusterKeaton).

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hollywoodrevuemainposter.gif]]

In 1929 Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer was at a crossroads. The studio had resisted talkies for as long as it could, continuing to produce a large number of its movies as silent films in early 1929 while the rest of Hollywood had already quit the medium completely. But the writing was on the wall, so MGM elected to introduce all of its biggest stars into talking films at the same time, with a single all-star feature. Thus, ''The Hollywood Revue of 1929'' was born.

The film is essentially a feature-length {{variety show}}, filled with sketch performances and musical numbers featuring almost every star under contract to MGM at that time. It was the talking film debut of nearly every member of the cast. A box-office smash in its day, it is now remembered chiefly as a curio and as a snapshot of Hollywood in transition. Some of the cast members thrived with the coming of sound pictures (Creator/JoanCrawford, Creator/LaurelAndHardy, Creator/NormaShearer), while others saw their careers go right down the toilet (Creator/JohnGilbert, William Haines, Karl Dane, Creator/BusterKeaton).

The film is essentially a feature-length {{variety show}}, filled with sketch performances and musical numbers featuring almost every star under contract to MGM at that time. It was the talking film debut of every member of the cast. While a box-office smash in its day, it's now remembered chiefly as a curio and as a snapshot of Hollywood in transition. Some of the cast members thrived with the coming of sound pictures (Creator/JoanCrawford, Creator/LaurelAndHardy, Creator/NormaShearer), while others saw their careers go right down the toilet (Creator/JohnGilbert, William Haines, Karl Dane, Creator/BusterKeaton).

Creator/JackBenny and Conrad Nagel serve as hosts. Besides the all-star cast, the film is best remembered for featuring the song "Singin' in the Rain" (which was introduced on stage earlier that same year in ''The Hollywood Music Box Revue'', and predates the film ''Film/SinginInTheRain'' by over 20 years).

''The Hollywood Revue of 1929'', directed by Charles Reisner, might be the oddest film ever to get an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination for Best Picture.

In 1929 Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer was at a crossroads. MGM had resisted talkies as long as it could, continuing to produce a large number of its movies as silent films in early 1929 while the rest of Hollywood had already quit the medium completely. But the writing was on the wall, and the studio elected to introduce all its stars into talking films at the same time with a single all-star revue. Thus ''The Hollywood Revue of 1929'' was born. The film is a feature-length variety show, filled with songs and sketch performances featuring almost every star under contract to MGM at that time. It was the talking film debut of every member of the cast. The film was a box-office smash, but is now remembered chiefly as a snapshot of Hollywood in transition. Some of the cast members thrived with the coming of sound pictures (Joan Crawford, Laurel and Hardy, Norma Shearer), while some saw their careers go right down the toilet (John Gilbert, William Haines, Karl Dane, Buster Keaton).

Jack Benny and Conrad Nagel are hosts. Besides the all-star cast, the film is best remembered for including the song "Singin' in the Rain", which was actually featured that same year in another variety film (''The Hollywood Music Box Revue''), and predates the film ''Film/SinginInTheRain'' by over 20 years.

Warner Bros. quickly responded with ''Show of Shows'', which served the same purpose. The only differences are that WB was the first studio to embrace talkies and the film was made almost entirely in Technicolor.

** Creator/LionelBarrymore, Creator/JoanCrawford, Marion Davies, Marie Dressler, Creator/JohnGilbert, William Haines, Creator/BusterKeaton, Creator/LaurelAndHardy, Bessie Love, Anita Page, Creator/NormaShearer, and lesser stars.

* VarietyShow: Or the film equivalent thereof, as a series of performers appear in different sketches for the camera.

In 1929 Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer was at a crossroads. MGM had resisted talkies as long as it could, continuing to produce silent films throughout 1929 while the rest of Hollywood had already quit the medium completely. But the writing was on the wall, and the studio elected to introduce all its stars into talking films at the same time with a single all-star revue. Thus was born ''The Hollywood Revue of 1929''. The film is a feature-length variety show, filled with songs and sketch performances featuring almost every star under contract to MGM at that time. It was the talking film debut of every member of the cast. The film was a box-office smash, but is now remembered chiefly as a snapshot of Hollywood in transition. Some of the cast members thrived with the coming of sound pictures (Joan Crawford, Laurel and Hardy, Norma Shearer), while some saw their careers go right down the toilet (John Gilbert, William Haines, Karl Dane, Buster Keaton).

* {{Fanservice}}: Lots of scantily clad chorus girls and dancers. Perhaps most noticeable when Beth Laemmle does a dance during number "The Pearl Ballet" clad only in a bikini.
* HaveAGayOldTime: Ukelele player Cliff Edwards tells Conrad Nagel that in order to romance women, "Today you've got to make love with words and music."

* NoPlotNoProblem: Later all-star revue films like ''Thank Your Lucky Stars'' or ''Hollywood Canteen'' would come up with some kind of plot as an excuse to hang the musical numbers around. Not this one, which has no plot whatsoever and is nothing more than a filmed variety show.

* SplashOfColor: John Gilbert and Norma Shearer's performance of the balcony scene from ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet'' is shot in early Technicolor, as are the last two numbers, "Orange Blossom Time" and the reprise of "Singin' in the Rain".
* StageMagician: Laurel and Hardy's skit consists of the two of them performing a truly terrible magic act.

** Creator/LionelBarrymore, Creator/JoanCrawford, Marion Davies, Marie Dressler, Creator/JohnGilbert, William Haines, Creator/BusterKeaton, Creator/LaurelAndHardy, Bessie Love, Anita Page, Norma Shearer, and lesser stars.

In 1929 Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer was at a crossroads. MGM had resisted talkies as long as it could, continuing to produce silent films throughout 1929 while the rest of Hollywood had already quit the medium completely. But the writing was on the wall, and the studio elected to introduce all its stars into talking films at the same time with a single all-star revue. Thus was born ''The Hollywood Revue of 1929''. The film is a feature-length variety show, filled with songs and sketch performances featuring almost every star under contract to MGM at that time. It was the talking film debut of every member of the cast. The film was a box-office smash at the time, but is now remembered chiefly as a snapshot of Hollywood in transition. Some of the cast members thrived with the coming of sound pictures (Joan Crawford, Laurel and Hardy, Norma Shearer), while some saw their careers go right down the toilet (John Gilbert, William Haines, Karl Dane, Buster Keaton).

* SplashOfColor: John Gilbert and Norma Shearer's performance of the balcony scene from ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet'' is shot in early Technicolor, as are the last two numbers, "Orange Blossom Time" and the reprise of "Singin' in the Rain".l