Sweethearts of the U.S.A. (Monogram) (1944)

SONGS, COMEDY, GIRLS, BANDS MAKE UP GAY SCREENMUSICAL (Review) Tuneful gaiety pervades “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.,’ the Monogram filmusical which opened an engagement at thee cee theatre last night. It is a thoroughly enter taining picture which is filled with comedy, catchy songs, pretty girls and the lilting music of three of the country’s most popular dance orchestras. * Una Merkel plays the featured role in this sprightly melange, and fully lives up to her reputation as one of the screen’s most engaging comediennes. Donald Novis returns to motion pictures as the singing mainstay of the piece, and his tenor voice is delightful. Parkyakarkus, the Greek dialectician, carries the principal comedy role with his. usual skill, and others who add importantly to the success of the film are Lillian Cornell, Cobina Wright, Sr., Ralph Sanford, Judith Gibson, Joel Friend, Marion Martin, Vince Barnett and Joseph Kirk. Add to this the orchestras tutes an outstanding musical production. Early in the story Parky, a buneling detective, unwittingly helps three bandits rob a local bank, and later he and Miss Merkel become | j co-managers of a 4-F band. A ghostly old residence which finally becomes a night club is the scene of ;/much of the merriment, and every thing comes out all right in the end. “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.” was directed by Lew Collins, and produced by Lester Cutler. The original story by Mary Sheldon was adapted by Arthur St. Claire, Sherman Lowe and Miss Sheldon; and of Jan Garber, Phil Ohman and|the songs were written by Lew PolHenry King, and the dancing beau-|lack, Charles Newman and Joe ties grouped as the “sweethearts of| Goodwins. Ira Morgan was in the U.S.A.,” and the total consti-|charge of camera work. "SWEETHEARTS OF THE U.S.A." IS ENTERTAINING FILMUSICAL (Review) “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.,” the Monogram musical film which opened at the _....--.....-.theatre last night, has realized handsomely on its announced purpose. It is intended as pure entertainment, and it is as entertainment that it qualifies in a high degree. It is a thoroughly enjoyable picture. Una Merkel is featured in the*¥* am leading role, and this attractive girl with the broad Southern accent is a positive delight. She is representative of a fine cast, which includes the top-ranking tenor singer, Donald Novis; the hilarious Greek comedian, Parkyakarkus; Lillian Cornell, Cobina Wright, Sr., Judith Gibson, Vince Barnett, Marion Martin and many others. Perhaps the outstanding feature of the entire production is its music, which is contributed by the orchestras of three of the country’s most popular conductors—Jan Garber, Henry King and Phil Ohman. The story? It’s all about buneling dective Parkyakarkus and the equally inept Miss Merkel, worker in a defense plant, who eventually manage a band, open a night club, get on the track of the missing criminals and otherwise form the centre of a lot of melodious fun. Songs, comedy and pretty girls are not unimportant factors in the proceedings, and the whole thing adds up to a successful film. Lew Collins directed “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.” for producer Lester Cutler, and the picture| Film Comedienne Una Merkel is speaks well for the efforts of both.|featured in the Monogram filmuThere are catchy songs by Lew sical, “Sweethearts of the U. S. A.” Pollack, Charles Newman and Joe Srp Hacieeriiine | arom 7 dae oF Goodwins, and an amusing story, the South Pacific, was the first adapted by Arthur St. Claire, Sher-| woman to entertain the servicemen man Lowe and Mary Sheldon from| of that area. an original story py Miss Sheldon. Photography by Ira Morgan is exOne Col. Scene Mat No, 4 cellent. TRAVELING ACTRESS | PAIR OF JOKERS Executive Director... . Produced DY.) 3: Associate Producer... Direcied BY. cies! Screenplay by........ Photography by....... Film: Baors. 26 58 Sound Recording...... oie LEW POLLACK Una Merkel and Parkyakarkus play the leading roles in the Monogram film, “Sweethearts of the U. S. A.” AE Se eae theatre. One Col. Scene Mat No. 2 RE tne eee theatre. The ac| Original Story by..... Technical Drector...... Musical Director....... Donald Novis and Lillian join vocal talents to introduce six new pulsating tunes in the Mono gram film, “Sweethearts of the U. SAY sat the wea. theatre. One Col. Scene Mat No. 7 MIMIC Cobina Wright, Sr., who was formerly an opera singer, has a pet dog which continually tries to imitate the vocalizing of his mistress. Mrs. Wright comes to the ........ ENCAULE OD soos cee in “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.,” the rollicking Monogram musical comedy featuring Una Merkel and the orchestras of Jan Garber, Phil Ohman and Henry King. Three Big Bands In Musical Film (Advance) One of the most tuneful musical films of the season comes to the THERE TON see , with the opening performance of the gay Monogram musical film, ‘“Sweethearts of the U.S.A.” featuring Una Merkel in the leading role. In addition to a singing cast of principal players, the orchestras of Jan Garber, Phil Ohman and Henry King lend melody to the proceedings. Aiding Miss Merkel in purveying the entertainment of the film are many such Hollywood favorites as Donald Novis, Parkyakarkus, Lillian Cornell, Relph Sanford, Cobina Wright, Sr., and many others. The story is a comedy-filled mixture of night clubs, deserted houses, bank robbers, defense plants, 4-F bands and pretty girls, all thrown together in a sparkling bit of unalloyed entertainment. The climax proves as great a surprise to the actors as it does to the audience. “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.” was directed by Lew Collins for producer Lester Cutler, and the original story by Mary Sheldon was adapted |for the screen by Arthur St. Claire. ‘Sherman Lowe and Miss Sheldon. Credits aie aee MAX KRAVETZ Ue LEW COLLINS eee MARY SHELDON ... ARTHUR ST. CLAIRE SHERMAN LOWE and MARY SHELDON Bicol area IRA MORGAN Onginal Words and’ Music by. 22. fen and CARLES NEWMAN “eweetnearis of the U.S, Ay “by (os... ae gee LEW POLLOCK and JOE GOODWINS Cornell | | Harmonious Twosome } The Cast ae a OR ea ere UNA MERKEL Pa oo a a PARKYAKARKUS Dot Claes) 88 ore ieee DONAL NOVIS Pielen Grn oe LILLIAN CORNELL orga a et er JUDITH GIBSON Beal erate ea JOEL FRIEND Mrs, Carver (ee COBINA WRIGHT, SR. Idsenhine <2 ee MARION MARTIN ReCR 7 ee VINCE BARNETT CunOGligy ee RALPH SANFORD mapoleon es. JOSEPH KIRK Playing supporting roles are: Georgann Smith, Joe Devlin, Edmund Cobb, Dorothy Bradshaw and Charles Williams. Featuring JAN GARBER HENRY KING PHIL OHMAN AND THEIR ORCHESTRAS The Story--A Sweet Treat (Not for Publication) Patsy Wilkins, worker in a defense plant, is a thorn in the side of Gilhooley, personnel manager, because of her ineptness and general inefficiency. She meets Parkyakarkus, bungling detective who has just been fired from the local force after unwittingly helping three bandits rob. a local bank. Helen Grant, night club singer and Patsy's roommate, joins the WACS, but Paisy is unable to make the grade. Parkyakarkus gets a clue to the whereabouts of the crooks, and sends the girls to his residence for some of his detection apparatus. On the way they meet two friends—bandmaster Henry King, and Don, his drummer and also boyfriend of Helen. Going to the house where Parky has his quarters, the four find that it is inhabited by an assorted collection of ghosts, who apparently are on good terms with the living lodgers in the place. Having been rejected by the Army, King and Don organize a 4-F band, with Parkyy as manager and Patsy as his assistant. The rich Mrs. Carver, owner and former occupant of the ghostly old mansion, learns that band music has been heard coming from the house, but decides not to turn out the intruders when they ask her to turn over the place as a night club for the entertainment of the town’s defense workers. Parky and Patsy later catch the crooks, who are also living in the old house, and Patsy is selected as the defense plant's latest Sweetheart of the U.S.A. when she discovers a new manufacturing process. BACKGROUND GARDENER Donald Novis was formerly tenor Lillian Cornell is an enthusiastic soloist on the “Fibber McGee and|amateur flower grower, and her Molly’ and Woodbury Soap radio| Hollywood garden specializes in programs, and also starred in his| bowers of azaleas and roses. Miss own broadcasts over NBC. Novis} Cornell comes to the ........ thecomes to: the: scene. theatre on|jatre on ........ in “Sweethearts of Baers ats in “Sweethearts of the/|the U.S.A.,’ Monogram’s rollicking U.S.A.,” Monogram’s gay musical| musical comedy featuring the orfilm which features Una Merkel|chestras of Jan Garber, Phil Ohand the orchestra music of Jan|}man and Henry King, and a cast Garber, Phil Ohman and Henry|headed by Una Merkel, Donald King. Novis and Parkyakarkus. POSSESSOR OF HIDDEN CHARMS Parkyakarkus has a way with the fairer sex as is proven in this scene from the Monogram musical film, “Sweethearts of the U. S. A.” at the Briere Rear theatre now. Two Column Scene Mat No. 22 Bee