Pirate Party on Catalina Isle (1935)

[drednm]

Gorgeous Technicolor short film from MGM serves as a travelogue for the resort town of Avalon but raises a couple questions.

Was this a test for MGM's use of Technicolor or had MGM already released Technicolor feature films?

Film seems to be 2 parts: 1) the actual pirate party ans 2) various shots of "guests" who seems to have no connection to the party and who may or may not even be in attendance.

The party itself is hosted by Chester Morris with Lee Tracy, Jack Duffy, Vince Barnett, Leon Errol, Sid Silvers, Johnny Downs, Betty Burgess, Eddie Peabody and Buddy Rogers participating. Then there are the "guest" shots that include Cary Grant and Randloph Scott together, Marion Davies (with Grant), Mickey Rooney, Virginia Bruce, Robert Armstrong, Errol Flynn, and Lili Damita.

Along with Rooney and Bruce, were any of these people under contract at MGM in 1935?

[Mike Gebert]

Been a long time since I've seen it, but I'd guess that they started with some footage of celebrities at Catalina and then constructed the pirate party hijinks as a premise for the film.

[s.w.a.c.]

Along with Rooney and Bruce, were any of these people under contract at MGM in 1935?

Marion Davies jumped ship from MGM (which distributed her Cosmopolitan Pictures productions) to Warner Bros. in 1934, I wonder when this was actually filmed?

[drednm]

Along with Rooney and Bruce, were any of these people under contract at MGM in 1935?

Marion Davies jumped ship from MGM (which distributed her Cosmopolitan Pictures productions) to Warner Bros. in 1934, I wonder when this was actually filmed?

Especially as the narrator gushes that she's "queen of the screen" except that by the time this was released she was on the Warners lot.

And Rooney does has a pirate hat on.....

Nice copy of this on YT but it has a hideous logo plastered on,,,,,

[Mike Gebert]

MGM had used three-strip segments in things like Hollywood Party but is there a color MGM feature before Sweethearts?

Of course they'd used two-strip in The Rogue Song and others.

[Richard P. May]

Your guess is correct, SWEETHEARTS was MGM's first full 3-strip Technicolor feature.
The original negative was destroyed in a fire in 1978, but MGM's having made proper protection elements it can still be seen in very good quality fairly often on TCM.

[drednm]

[Brooksie]

I'm betting this was only distributed by MGM but produced independently, hence not focusing exclusively on MGM contract stars. Louis Lewyn (Mr Marion Mack, of The General) made a career out of producing Hollywood-slice-of-life shorts like the Voice of Hollywood series.

[Javier]

Years ago I recordered a movie off TCM and it was shown after the film, now... recently I found out it was a bonus on a film I purchased on DVD. I cannot recall at this moment but, I think it was on one of my Errol Flynn Box-sets.
I am really bad at remembering extras on every DVD I have seen but, I know I own it since I was happy to have it on DVD
because Chester Morris is in it.
Perhaps, I should get into the habit of tagging sticky pads on every DVD I own to remind me of the extra features?

[Donald Binks]

Thanks for posting Ed! I really enjoy seeing these old Technicolor shorts. They are such an alive and vibrant time capsule.

I finally was able to visit Catalina Island just a few years back and this fillum brought back memories.

[drednm]

Thanks for posting Ed! I really enjoy seeing these old Technicolor shorts. They are such an alive and vibrant time capsule.

I finally was able to visit Catalina Island just a few years back and this fillum brought back memories.

I was there in the 80s and it was pretty magical.... it's probably totally overrun with tourists nowadays.

[Harold Aherne]

Between Call of the Flesh in August 1930 and Sweethearts in December 1938, three MGM features used Technicolor for sequences:
Broadway to Hollywood (1933) two-colour, filmed for "March of Time"
The Cat and the Fiddle (1934) discussed here earlier
Hollywood Party (1934) animated sequence

There was also a Technicolor scene filmed for but probably not used in This Modern Age (1931; see the filmography in The Dawn of Technicolor). Wir schalten um auf Hollywood may also have used Technicolor "March of Time" footage, although I don't think this has been confirmed with a cutting continuity reference.

MGM had released 14 live-action, 3-strip short films during the 1934-35 season, including "Star Night at the Cocoanut Grove", the first of Louis Lewyn's all-star musical shorts in colour. Six more of the Lewyn mini-musicals in colour would be produced through 1937, and they often featured celebrities who otherwise had no association with MGM, such as Richard Barthelmess and Alice Faye. Lewyn would produce some additional MGM shorts in B&W.

Unlike nearly all of MGM's features and shorts from the time, they were recorded with RCA Victor equipment rather than Western Electric. They also had a tendency to carry release dates rather in advance of any reviews appearing; for example La Fiesta de Santa Barbara is shown in the trade journals' release charts with a date of 7 Dec. 1935, but MPH and Variety did not review it until April 1936. Likewise, "Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs" is shown with a date of 11 Jan. 1936, yet the Film Daily of 25 April 1936 implied that it was just being finished, and it didn't play on Broadway until that August.

Whatever the idiosyncrasies with release dates, theatre patrons seemed to love them, as evidenced by "What the Picture Did for Me" reviews in MPH. Reviewing "Sunkist Stars" in the 21 Nov. 1936 issue, Mrs. E. L. Tait of the Lauder Theatre in Mount Forest, Ontario said "We would play 52 of these a year if they would make 'em."

-HA

[Changsham]

Most of these MGM Technicolor shorts appear in Warner Archives CLASSIC SHORTS from the DREAM FACTORY, Vol 1 including PIRATE PARTY. Some appear in outstanding vibrant DVD transfers and all are good fun to watch.

[David Pierce]

These shorts didn't just appear out of nowhere. They were part of a charity fund-raising project - that's why all the stars from multiple studios were able to appear.

From Variety, March 18, 1936, p. 6, available here on Media History Digital Library.

"Series of color shorts being made by Louis Lewyn for Metro release are presumably produced to bring revenue to Motion Picture Relief Fund. Financial setup has Mary Pickford contributing to the charity, although players are asked to contribute their services. Miss Pickford's 50% goes to fund. Lewyn's share of the profit helps maintain his staff."

MGM had no involvement in the production; they purchased the negatives for a flat price of about $48,000 each.

David Pierce
Media History Digital Library
http://www.mediahistoryproject.org" target="_blank" target="_blank

[drednm]

These shorts didn't just appear out of nowhere. They were part of a charity fund-raising project - that's why all the stars from multiple studios were able to appear.

From Variety, March 18, 1936, p. 6, available here on Media History Digital Library.

"Series of color shorts being made by Louis Lewyn for Metro release are presumably produced to bring revenue to Motion Picture Relief Fund. Financial setup has Mary Pickford contributing to the charity, although players are asked to contribute their services. Miss Pickford's 50% goes to fund. Lewyn's share of the profit helps maintain his staff."

MGM had no involvement in the production; they purchased the negatives for a flat price of about $48,000 each.

David Pierce
Media History Digital Library
http://www.mediahistoryproject.org" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Interesting.... I thought maybe someone had an interest in some Avalon resort or something. The color on this one is outstanding.....

[David Alp]

Gorgeous Technicolor short film from MGM serves as a travelogue for the resort town of Avalon but raises a couple questions.

Was this a test for MGM's use of Technicolor or had MGM already released Technicolor feature films?

Film seems to be 2 parts: 1) the actual pirate party ans 2) various shots of "guests" who seems to have no connection to the party and who may or may not even be in attendance.

The party itself is hosted by Chester Morris with Lee Tracy, Jack Duffy, Vince Barnett, Leon Errol, Sid Silvers, Johnny Downs, Betty Burgess, Eddie Peabody and Buddy Rogers participating. Then there are the "guest" shots that include Cary Grant and Randloph Scott together, Marion Davies (with Grant), Mickey Rooney, Virginia Bruce, Robert Armstrong, Errol Flynn, and Lili Damita.

Along with Rooney and Bruce, were any of these people under contract at MGM in 1935?

Did anyone notice a very very fleeting close-up of Jeanie Lang (star of "King Of Jazz") at 13:56, pulling the exact same facial features that she pulled in "King of Jazz"

[Scott Eckhardt]

Your guess is correct, SWEETHEARTS was MGM's first full 3-strip Technicolor feature.
The original negative was destroyed in a fire in 1978, but MGM's having made proper protection elements it can still be seen in very good quality fairly often on TCM.

I saw this awhile back on Warner Archive. My only problem with it was the outrageously over done rouging of Jeanette's cheeks. I realize this was MGM's first full foray into full Technicolor, but this clownish appearance is in stark contrast to, say, Marlene Dietrich in GARDEN OF ALLAH made two years earlier.

[Richard Finegan]

Did anyone notice a very very fleeting close-up of Jeanie Lang (star of "King Of Jazz") at 13:56, pulling the exact same facial features that she pulled in "King of Jazz"

She's in this because she was working with Buddy Rogers and his band (who are featured in the film) at this time. But apparently they didn't find the time to give her a song in the film.

[Brooksie]

Your guess is correct, SWEETHEARTS was MGM's first full 3-strip Technicolor feature.
The original negative was destroyed in a fire in 1978, but MGM's having made proper protection elements it can still be seen in very good quality fairly often on TCM.

I saw this awhile back on Warner Archive. My only problem with it was the outrageously over done rouging of Jeanette's cheeks. I realize this was MGM's first full foray into full Technicolor, but this clownish appearance is in stark contrast to, say, Marlene Dietrich in GARDEN OF ALLAH made two years earlier.

The film was on TCM this morning, and I was just admiring the wonderful quality of the image. While I didn't consider Jeanette too overly flushed, you could guess that it was MGM's first three-strip based on the over-use of blue in the palette alone. It was as if they were saying "Look! We can do the third colour now!"

Still, a very enjoyable film indeed, and I'm glad that MGM did right by it. The opening sequence alone, with the model shot of the neon signs of Manhattan moving down to the theatre where 'Sweethearts' is playing, is a real knockout.

[djwein]

Louis Lewyn would bring a 16mm Technicolor camera to various Hollywood parties and events. He'd film the stars and then splice their bits into the shorts he was making.