The Singing Marine

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The Singing Marine
The Singing Marine.jpg
Directed by Ray Enright
Busby Berkeley (musical sequences)
Written by Delmer Daves (original screenplay)
Produced by Jack L. Warner
Hal B. Wallis
Starring Dick Powell
Doris Weston
Lee Dixon
Cinematography Arthur L. Todd
Sidney Hickox (uncredited)
Edited byThomas Pratt
Music by Heinz Roemheld
Production
company
Warner Bros.
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date
  • July 3, 1937 (1937-07-03)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Singing Marine is a 1937 American musical film directed by Ray Enright and Busby Berkeley and starring Dick Powell. It was the last of Powell's trio of service-related Warners films: 1934's Flirtation Walk paid tribute, of sorts, to the Army, and 1935's Shipmates Forever to the Navy. This one is distinguished by its two musical sequences directed by Busby Berkeley.

Contents

Plot

. I missed most of the first hour… On the strength of his uniform & voice, Dick becomes a celebrity. A crackpot manager Hugh Herbert signs him to an exclusive contract. Dick’s unit gets ordered to China but he, along with his sergeant and corporal, miss their transport. The sergeant is an unusually dynamic Allen Jenkins. Dick orders a suite on a luxury liner, a stateroom for his loyal girlfriend/pal Peggy and accommodations for the marines and they all set sail. On the voyage, Dick sings a lot, there’s serious tap dancing, Dick sings some more and he is besieged by a horde of beautiful ( is a crowd of Warner Brothers showgirls a Horde ? ) passengers who literally pass him from one to the other. Peggy is not pleased by this display and she is added to the list of those upset with Mr. Powell. They get to Shang Hai. The marines wants him back and he’s restricted to base.

There’s a world wide radio broadcast that he has to finagle, but it all works out. His unit thinks he’s been high hatting them but he helps out a marine’s widow who is a favorite of all the local leathnecks. He gives her a nightclub that he ended up with. Peggy forgives him, they kiss Dick sings some more and Fade Out.

Cast

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