Footlight Varieties
1951 film directed by Hal Yates
- March 21, 1951 (1951-03-21) (US)[1]
Running time
Footlight Varieties is the third of four titles in the RKO series of variety films, combining previously filmed shorts with new musical numbers, plus monologues by master of ceremonies Jack Paar. The new footage was directed by Hal Yates and written by Yates and Felix Adler.
In addition to Paar, the new footage includes performances by The Sportsmen quartet, Liberace, Jerry Murad's Harmonicats, Red Buttons, Grace Hartman, flamenco dancer Inesita, and comic trick photography by Weegee. The older sequences are taken from the Leon Errol two-reel comedy He Forgot to Remember, a Flicker Flashbacks silent-movie revival (with new narration by Paar), a Frankie Carle musical short (Carle Comes Calling), and a production number with eccentric dancers Buster West and Melissa Mason (from Radio City Revels)
Footlight Varieties was followed by the fourth and final film in the "musical revue" series, Merry Mirthquakes, which received a limited release in 1953. Liberace appeared in new footage showcasing his piano performances, and he introduced three RKO comedy shorts.
Plot summary
Cast
- Jack Paar as Host
- Liberace as Liberace
- Inesita as Gypsy Dancer
- Red Buttons as Red Buttons
- Mamie Van Doren as Blonde in Theater (as Joan Olander)
Reception
Variety gave the picture a good review, complimenting both Jack Paar's hosting abilities, as well as the production value by George Bilson.[2]
References
External links
- Footlight Varieties at IMDb
- Footlight Varieties at AllMovie
- Footlight Varieties at the TCM Movie Database
- Footlight Varieties at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
