SWING HOSTESS (1944)

 

This is the kind of bright, funny, fast-moving movie musical I fell in love with during countless afternoons watching the "early show" after school in the 1960's. The rather thin plot has singer Judy Alvin (Martha Tilton) trying to break into the music business. She has real talent and gets a chance to make a record. However, because of a series of blunders and misunderstandings, a decidedly untalented rival, Phoebe Forbes (Betty Brodel), gets the credit for Judy's vocals and is signed to a record contract. Judy and Phoebe both live at the same theatrical boarding house. The other tenants, led by Judy's best friend, Marge O'Day (Iris Adrian), join forces to get Judy the recognition she deserves. All ends well at a swank nightclub where Judy gets to sing and becomes a star, not to mention winning the heart of handsome band leader Benny Jackson (Charles Collins).

This 76-minute gem was directed by Sam Newfield for Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC), one of the most prolific "poverty row" studios of the period. The energetic cast was headed by Miss Tilton, an extremely gifted singer who was quite popular during the WW2 years. SWING HOSTESS gives her the opportunity to perform no less than six songs written by Jay Livingston, Ray Evans, and Lewis Bellin.

Miss Tilton is ably supported by Iris Adrian, the undisputed Queen of the fast-talking, wisecracking dames in countless movies of the 1930's-1960's. There were few actresses in movie history who were as adept at tossing off one-liner insults and zingers as Miss Adrian. Seeing her name in a cast list is always a guarantee of a good time.

Martha Tilton and Iris Adrian

The film also serves as an interesting time capsule. Part of the story has Judy working for a "telephone juke box" company. A Rock-ola juke box in a diner has a list of songs and a telephone number. Customers wishing to hear a song call the company's central location where an actual record will be played and heard over loudspeakers in the diner. I never even knew this type of juke box existed!

SWING HOSTESS may not have the same star power or production values of the big budget musicals of 1944, but it does have good music and a lot of heart. Consider it 76 minutes of your life put to good use.