Friday, December 22, 2017

Midshipmaid Gob (1932), 6- {nm}

Sir Percy Newbiggin visits the fleet to find ways to economize naval expenditures. Daughter Celia tags along, and organizes a morale-boosting show utilizing ship-board talent. Her fiance shows up, and romantic complications ensue.
(84 min) Released 1932-12-08
Director: Albert de Courville
Stars: Jessie Matthews, Frederick Kerr, Basil Sydney, Claud Allister, Nigel Bruce, John Mills

Genres: Comedy
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023222/
bootleg copy, reasonable print

Bought to create a complete collection of both Jessie Matthews films and the Condos Bros oeuvre.

In the IMDb credits, they list Steve and Nick Condos as Horse. Indeed there is a pantomime horse, shown to be populated by Nigel Bruce in the rear, and a taller man ahead. The horse dances ~1:00:40, with the rear keeping up with the steps sometimes, but nothing so impressive that it requires Condos Bros.

Later, ~1:06:06 we see the Bros themselves dancing for a few seconds, fitting in well with the amateur standing of the performers. Here's the rub: Steve (b.10'18), would only be 14 when this was released (12'32). The Bros are very different in height, but neither looks only 14. The shorter one looks quite a bit older, and that would match Frank (b. 1906). In the sources I've read, he quit the act in '33 (or '36), when Steve stepped in. So this is likely Frank and Nick, not Steve and Nick (b. 1915).

This is JM's 3rd talkie; she sings a few times, and eventually dances. Tap! Appendix lists this film because of JM, but I don't recall her tapping. The Pierrot/Pierrette number is more pop ballet. The big emphasis here is comedy, mostly delivered by the navy, not JM, although her part is not small.

Gaumont British; dir. de Courville, 6-