Down to Their Last Yacht

Last updated
Down to Their Last Yacht
Directed by Paul Sloane
Written by Herbert Fields
Lou Brock
Screenplay by Marion Dix
Lynn Starling
Produced byLou Brock
Pandro S. Berman
Starring Mary Boland
Polly Moran
Cinematography Edward Cronjager
Edited by Arthur Roberts
Music by Roy Webb
Distributed by RKO Pictures
Release date
  • August 31, 1934 (1934-08-31)
Running time
64 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Down to Their Last Yacht is a 1934 comic adventure produced and distributed by RKO Pictures. [1]

Contents

Plot

After the stock market crash of 1929, the Colt-Stratton family is forced to rent their yacht to the nouveau riche at the behest of Nella Fitzgerald (Polly Moran), including gambler Barry Forbes (Sidney Blackmer) and his sidekick Freddy Finn (Sterling Holloway). When Freddy rigs the yacht's roulette wheel to respond to his saxophone, he is caught, but moments later, Captain "Sunny Jim" Roberts (Ned Sparks) runs the yacht aground on the South Sea Island of Malakamokolu, ruled by Queen Malakamokalu (Mary Boland), a White woman, who takes the passengers as forced labor. Tiring them, she offers to release them if Barry stays to marry her. However, once she hears Freddy play his saxophone, she falls in love with him and plans to blow up the yacht with a bomb. Barry manages to rescue the passengers, not the boat, and they accept their new home in the tropics.

Cast

Production

Two separate units were used to speed the production, one directed by producer Lou Brock and the other by director Paul Sloane. Sam White was hired to direct retakes, supervised by Brock, which involved re-shooting a quarter of the film. Brock was given carte blanche on the film, which went considerably over budget; it turned out to be his last production for RKO. [2]

Reception

The New York Times review of the film called the movie "a sorry melange of Hollywood native dancing, theme-song singing and preposterous comedy." [3]

The film was a box-office disappointment for RKO. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sterling Holloway</span> American actor (1905–1992)

Sterling Price Holloway Jr. was an American actor who appeared in over 100 films and 40 television shows. He did voice acting for The Walt Disney Company, playing Mr. Stork in Dumbo, Adult Flower in Bambi, the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland, Kaa in The Jungle Book, Roquefort the Mouse in The Aristocats, and the title character in Winnie the Pooh, among many others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sidney Blackmer</span> American actor (1895–1973)

Sidney Alderman Blackmer was an American Broadway and film actor active between 1914 and 1971, usually in major supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suzanne Kaaren</span> American actress and dancer (1912–2004)

Suzanne Kaaren was an American B-movie actress and dancer who starred in stock film genres of the 1930s and 1940s: horror films, westerns, comedies, and romances.

<i>Gold Diggers of 1933</i> 1933 film by Mervyn LeRoy, Busby Berkeley

Gold Diggers of 1933 is an American pre-Code musical film directed by Mervyn LeRoy with songs by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics). The film's numbers were staged and choreographed by Busby Berkeley. It starred Warren William, Joan Blondell, Aline MacMahon, Ruby Keeler, and Dick Powell. It featured appearances by Guy Kibbee, Ned Sparks and Ginger Rogers.

<i>George Whites 1935 Scandals</i> 1935 American musical film

George White's 1935 Scandals is an American musical film, written by Jack Yellen and produced in 1935 by Fox Film Corporation. It was a follow-up to the 1934 release, George White's Scandals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Boland</span> American actress (1882–1965)

For the Irish-born American nurse, see Mary G. Boland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polly Moran</span> American actress (1883–1952)

Pauline Theresa Moran billed as Polly Moran, was an American actress of vaudeville, stage and screen and a comedian.

<i>Blonde Venus</i> 1932 film

Blonde Venus is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film starring Marlene Dietrich, Herbert Marshall and Cary Grant. It was produced, edited and directed by Josef von Sternberg from a screenplay by Jules Furthman and S. K. Lauren, adapted from a story by Furthman and von Sternberg. The original story "Mother Love" was written by Dietrich herself. The musical score was by W. Franke Harling, John Leipold, Paul Marquardt and Oscar Potoker, with cinematography by Bert Glennon.

<i>Street Girl</i> 1929 film

Street Girl is a 1929 pre-Code musical film directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring Betty Compson, John Harron and Jack Oakie. It was adapted by Jane Murfin from "The Viennese Charmer", a short story by William Carey Wonderly. While it was the first film made by RKO Radio Pictures, its opening was delayed until after Syncopation, making it RKO's second release. It was very successful at the box office, accounting for almost half of RKO's profits for the entire year.

<i>The Adventures of Tom Sawyer</i> (1938 film) 1938 American film directed by Norman Taurog

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a 1938 American drama film produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Norman Taurog who had previously directed Huckleberry Finn (1931) with Jackie Coogan and Junior Durkin. The film starred Tommy Kelly in the title role, with Jackie Moran and Ann Gillis. The screenplay by John V. A. Weaver was based on the classic 1876 novel of the same name by Mark Twain. The movie was the first film version of the novel to be made in color.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nella Walker</span> American actress (1886–1971)

Nella Walker was an American actress and vaudeville performer of the 1920s through the 1950s.

<i>Tarzans Secret Treasure</i> 1941 Tarzan film directed by Richard Thorpe

Tarzan's Secret Treasure is a 1941 American adventure film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan and Johnny Sheffield. Based on the Tarzan character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, it is the fifth in the MGM Tarzan series to feature Weissmuller and O'Sullivan. Original prints of the film were processed in sepiatone.

<i>Tom Browns School Days</i> (1940 film) 1940 film by Robert Stevenson

Tom Brown's School Days is a 1940 coming-of-age drama film about a teenage boy's experiences at Rugby School, Warwickshire in the early 19th century under the reforming headmastership of Thomas Arnold. It stars Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Freddie Bartholomew and Jimmy Lydon in the title role. The film was based on the 1857 novel, Tom Brown's School Days by Thomas Hughes.

<i>Hit the Deck</i> (1930 film) 1930 film by Luther Reed

Hit the Deck is a 1930 American pre-Code musical film directed by Luther Reed and starring Jack Oakie and Polly Walker, with Technicolor sequences. It was based on the 1927 musical Hit the Deck, which was itself based on the 1922 play Shore Leave by Hubert Osborne. It was one of the most expensive productions of RKO Radio Pictures up to that time, and one of the most expensive productions of 1930. This version faithfully reproduced the stage version of the musical.

<i>Caught Plastered</i> 1931 film

Caught Plastered is a 1931 American Pre-Code musical comedy film, released by RKO Radio Pictures and starring the comedy team Wheeler & Woolsey.

<i>Down Mexico Way</i> 1941 film

Down Mexico Way is a 1941 American western film directed by Joseph Santley and starring Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and Fay McKenzie. Based on a story by Dorrell and Stuart E. McGowan, the film is about a singing cowboy who comes to the aid of the townspeople of Sage City who are victims of a nefarious scam.

<i>Cocktail Hour</i> (film) 1933 film

Cocktail Hour is a 1933 American pre-Code romantic drama film produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures and starring Bebe Daniels. This film was directed by Victor Schertzinger.

<i>Private Scandal</i> 1934 film by Ralph Murphy

Private Scandal is a 1934 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Ralph Murphy and written by Vera Caspary, Garrett Fort and Bruce Manning. The film stars ZaSu Pitts, Phillips Holmes, Mary Brian, Ned Sparks, Lew Cody, June Brewster and Harold Waldridge. The film was released on May 11, 1934, by Paramount Pictures.

<i>Michael OHalloran</i> (1937 film) 1937 film by Karl Brown

Michael O'Halloran is a 1937 American drama film directed by Karl Brown and starring Wynne Gibson, Warren Hull and Jackie Moran. It is an adaptation of the 1915 novel of the same name by Gene Stratton-Porter.

References

Notes

  1. The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1931–40
  2. "Notes" on TCM.com
  3. F.S. N. (September 24, 1934). "Down to Their Last Yacht (1934) South Seas Fantasy". The New York Times .
  4. D. W. (Nov 25, 1934). "TAKING A LOOK AT THE RECORD". The New York Times. ProQuest   101193306.