Follow Thru

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Follow Thru
FollowThru.jpg
Zelma O'Neal sings "I Want to Be Bad"
Directed by Laurence Schwab
Lloyd Corrigan
Screenplay byLaurence Schwab
Lloyd Corrigan
Based onFollow Thru
(1929 Broadway musical)
by Lew Brown, B. G. DeSylva, Ray Henderson and Laurence Schwab
Produced byLaurence Schwab
Frank Mandel
Starring Charles "Buddy" Rogers
Nancy Carroll
Zelma O'Neal
Jack Haley
Eugene Pallette
Thelma Todd
CinematographyHenry W. Gerrard
Charles P. Boyle
(Technicolor)
Edited by Alyson Shaffer
Music byLew Brown
Buddy G. DeSylva
Ray Henderson
George Marion Jr.
Richard A. Whiting
Richard Rodgers
Lorenz Hart
Ed Eliscu
Manning Sherwin
Vernon Duke
Irving Berlin.
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • September 27, 1930 (1930-09-27)(U.S.)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Follow Thru is a 1930 American pre-Code musical romantic comedy film photographed entirely in Technicolor. [1] It was the second all-color, all-talking feature to be produced by Paramount Pictures. The film was based on the hit 1929 Broadway musical of the same name by Lew Brown, B. G. DeSylva, Ray Henderson and Laurence Schwab. The musical ran a total of 401 performances from January 9, 1929, to December 21, 1929. Jack Haley, Zelma O'Neal ad Don Tomkins, who starred in the Broadway production, reprised their roles in the film version.

Contents

The film is one of dozens of musicals made in 1929 and 1930 following the advent of sound, and it is one of several to feature color cinematography. Though many of these films have been lost or were destroyed by the original studios, the original camera negative of Follow Thru survives in its entirety and in excellent condition. [2] It has been preserved by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. [3]

Cast

Plot

At the Mission Country Club in 1910, golf pro Mac Moore orders champagne to celebrate the birth of his child, whom he hopes to raise to be a champion golfer. When he learns that the newborn is a girl, he changes the order to beer.

Twenty years later, Mac's daughter Lora has entered the club tournament, but she loses to Ruth Van Horn, a champion from another club, and contemplates giving up golf. Jerry Downes, a golf pro, and his friend Jack Martin arrive at the club. Lora takes one look at Jerry and decides to stay in the game.

Meanwhile, Jack meets Lora's best friend, Angie, but is too flustered to make a move. (duet: "Button Up Your Overcoat") Jerry gives Lora golf lessons. (duet: "A Peach of a Pair") Babs and Dinty deny any romantic feelings for one another. (duet: "Then I'll Have Time for You")

A title card announces a change of scene: "The masquerade party - across the border"

At Ruth's housewarming party in Mexico, Angie sings "I Want to Be Bad", which evolves into a huge production number with dozens of dancing angels and devils, fire and smoke effects, and a little fire engine manned by children. Angry at Ruth's attempts to seduce Jerry, teetotaler Lora gets drunk, sings a reprise of "I Want to be Bad" and passes out. Jerry reprises "A Peach of a Pair". Jerry and Lora drive home. (duet: "It Must Be You")

New club member J.C. Effingham ("Effie"), the girdle magnate, agrees to help Jack recover a family ring he gave to Angie if Jack's father will stock Effie's girdles in his department stores. Effie and Jack infiltrate the ladies locker room disguised as plumbers. Jack gets the ring and the girl.

At another tournament, Lora, still upset with Jerry, gives him the cold shoulder and he walks away but Jack coaxes him back. On the 18th hole, Jerry steps in as Lora's caddy and she wins! Jerry walks away again. Jack and Angie encourage Jerry and Lora to make up so they can plan a double wedding. (reprise: "A Peach of a Pair")

Songs

Of the twelve songs in the original Broadway production, only five were performed in the film.

Production

The film was shot in Los Angeles and Palm Springs. The extras who appear in golf course scenes had to be coached with regard to golf etiquette (when to applaud a strike, etc.). About two hundred extras were used for the climactic golf championship sequence. [4]

Preservation

For a long time, the film was believed to be lost, but a print was found in the 1990s[ citation needed ] and it was carefully restored and preserved by the UCLA Film and Television Archive.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ben Sachs (July 1, 2015). "Northwest Chicago Film Society salutes the dawn of Technicolor with a racy musical about golf". Chicago Reader . Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Follow Thru on Our New Season". Northwest Chicago Film Society. June 11, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Feature Films Preserved by UCLA". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Charles Rogers At State, Follow Thru". Reading Eagle . October 19, 1930. p. 16.
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