Girl Crazy

(1932)
 

Provided by noted film historian/author
William M. Drew
 
 

"The Screen," The New York Times, March 25, 1932

Fun in the Glorious West

GIRL CRAZY, based on the musical comedy book of John McGowan and Guy
Bolton; directed by William Seiter; an RKO Production.  At the Mayfair.

Jimmy Deegan. . . . ..Bert Wheeler
Slick Foster. . . . . .Robert Woolsey
Danny Churchill. . . . .Eddie Quillan
Patsy. . . . . . .. . . . . . .Dorothy Lee
Tessie Deegan. . . . .. . .Mitzi Green
Kate Foster. . . . . . . . . . .Kitty Kelly
Molly Gray. . . . . . . . . .Arline Judge
Lank Sanders. . . . . . .Stanley Fields
Mary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lita Chevret
Pete. . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Pin Martin

By Mordaunt Hall

Fun of the boisterous kind abounds in the pictorial version of the musical comedy, "Girl Crazy," which came to the Mayfair last night.  The melodious side of this adventure is unimportant, but with Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey at their best, it offers a brand of humor that few could resist.

It opens with a scene of a cemetery, but even that has its mirthful moments, for all those who are buried there are sheriffs of Custerville, Ariz., some of whom had served as long as half an hour, while others were potted off before they were elected.  To these he-men of the wide open spaces the mere mention of the word "West," is enough to cause them to doff their sombreros and stand in reverence.  And woe betide the tenderfoot who hastily breathes "West" without paying heed to the custom of the men of Custerville.

To this spot goes Slick Foster (Mr. Woolsey), accompanied by his contralto-voiced, blonde wife.  It falls to the lot of Jimmy Deegan (Mr. Wheeler), a careless taxicab driver, to take them there.  In a matter-of-fact tone, as if it were done every day, Slick orders Jimmy to go to Custerville, and they start, with the taxi clock working up to more than $400.  They have their full share of adventures on the way, but that is nothing compared to what they encounter once they strike their destination, for at the second of their arrival another sheriff is shot and the omnipotent Lank Sanders, the terror of the tank town, at once blames Slick, who resigns the noose in favor of Deegan.

The arrival of a bus attracts attention and Deegan, Slick and his wife are safe.  Subsequently Deegan is prevailed upon to run for sheriff, and to his dismay he is elected.  This provides more boisterous laughter, for Lank Sanders is out to add another notch to his pistol.

Mitzi Green here appears as Deegan's sister, Tessie, who, no matter where she is and what danger there is about, invariably expresses a desire to do her imitations.  She receives an opportunity at the height of the excitement and among others she mimics George Arliss and Edna May Oliver.  Miss Green does this so effectively that the audience applauded lustily.

Needless to say plenty of bottles, jars and vases are shattered with good effect here.  Deegan begins by smashing the windshield of his car, the glass causing no end of punctures to other vehicles.  And out in fair Arizona, the rowdy conduct continues, with Lank Sanders being hypnotized by Slick for several minutes.  And how Slick and Deegan delight in tweaking Sanders's nose!  The victim is brought out of his trance by a snap of the fingers and of course this results in trouble for Slick and Deegan.

The book by Guy Bolton and John McGowan serves Messrs. Wheeler and Woolsey well.  The latter is seldom without his faithful cigar and he always takes care to have three dice on hand in case of losing the first round.  Dorothy Lee adds to the general hilarity of this production.  Eddie Quillan is another factor in the proceedings and Stanley Fields makes about the best bad man from the glorious West that has been seen on the screen in many a day.