mark.waltz MGM taught us to sing in the rain, while the Warner Brothers told us "Never take a shower. It's an awful pain. Singin' in the shower is like singin' in the rain". Over at the very art deco Paramount, Maurice Chevalier joined a bunch of chorus girl cuties to literally sweep the clouds out of the sky and shakes all those nasty demons off of the rooftops of Paris. Chevalier, who appears in several numbers, would later have another stormy weather number a few years later in "Folies Bergere" where he got the Busby Berkley like "Rhythm of the Raindrops".Among the other highlights are Clara Bow's flirtatious "True to the Navy" (ironically the name of a film she just did a year later), Nancy Carroll's "Dancing To Save Your Soul" (rising out of a giant shoe) and Helen Kane's squeaky voiced "What Did Cleopatra Say", playing a schoolteacher to Paramount's child stars. Ruth Chatterton, one of Paramount's top dramatic stars of this time, also sings, and there are rare glimpses of such early 30's forgotten celebrities as Lillian Roth, Zelma O'Neal and Richard "Skeets" Gallagher, once big names but now a distant memory except to classic cinema buffs like myself. Edited after its release and missing much of its footage for its later television release, what still exists is entertaining and nostalgic. There's a great comedy skit that shows a Hollywood party in motion where stars say what they think they should say in polite society, and then a repeat of it where they say what they are really thinking. There's also a detective movie spoof that involves Sherlock Holmes (Clive Brook), Philo Vance (William Powell) and Detective Heath (Eugene Palette) up against Fu Manchu (Warner Oland). Pretty much just more of the same with the majority of Paramount's contract players, this is more music than sketch, and the elaborateness of the film is even greater than MGM's "Hollywood Revue", Warner Brothers' "Show of Shows", Universal's "King of Jazz" (in spite of its color photography) and Fox's "The Fox Movietone Follies". In the cut version, appearances by such big names as Jean Arthur, Gary Cooper, Kay Francis and Richard Arlen are fleeting, but for its nostalgic look back at life at the beginning of the sound era as new stars took over the fading silent stars, it makes fascinating viewing.

bbmtwist I used to think KING OF JAZZ, Universal's entry into the studio review genre, was the worst, but Paramount tops it. MGM had THE Hollywood REVIEW, the best of the four; Warners had THE SHOW OF SHOWS; Paramount has PARAMOUNT ON PARADE.Only 1 hour and 19 minutes, 20 seconds of this survives, leaving 21 minutes missing. I believe this is lost Technicolor footage (recently restored by UCLA), featuring four numbers: Dream Girl; Singing in a Gondola; The Gallows Song; and Isadore the Toreador.What's left has only one redeeming feature and that is Maurice Chevalier in three numbers: History of the Apache (with Evelyn Brent and obviously directed by Lubitsch); One Girl (most likely directed also by Lubitsch) and the Sweeping The Clouds Away finale.The comedy and musical numbers are from hunger with cheesy sets, forgettable writing and songs, and blah performances. Elsewhere in other reviews here you will find a run down of the numbers and their performers. Perhaps the worst singing is that f Nancy Carroll, although she dances well. Ruth Chatterton even sings better than Carroll, but her number is stupid and beneath her dignity as a dramatic actress.It's fun to see all four of these, just to marvel at how talentless most all the studios were with the advent of sound and musical savor faire. Only MGM comes out on top.

kidboots When "Paramount on Parade" was filmed - Paramount had more musical stars than any other studio. The other studio revues (MGM's "Hollywood Revue of 1929" and Warner's "Show of Shows") may have been more flashy but most of the stars were not singers or dancers and people went for the novelty of seeing their favourites trying to sing or dance.In 1930 Nancy Carroll was voted "Queen of the Screen" and Maurice Chevalier was the new sensation of the movies - both were Paramount players. Helen Kane was also very much in vogue (although within a year her popularity had nose -dived). There are three Masters of Ceremonies - Leon Errol, Skeets Gallagher and Jack Oakie are introduced singing "Paramount on Parade".As dredmn says several of the segments are missing. Among the sketches I liked:- "Any Time's the Time to Fall in Love" - was sung by Buddy Rogers and Lillian Roth looking vibrant and happy."What Did Cleopatra Say" - Helen Kane attempts to teach history to a class (including Mitzi Green and Jackie Searle)."I'm True to the Navy Now" - Clara Bow was fantastic - she could really sing (apparently she had to film her segment during a break from another movie and also do her own hair.)Jack Oakie and Skeets Gallagher were sailors."Dance Mad" - "Dancing to Save Your Soul" was the highlight for me. Coming out of a shoe box Abe Lyman and his band played the song. Nancy Carroll was completely gorgeous and sang in a very sweet voice. Al "Rubberlegs" Norman was on hand and he and Nancy did a funny, eccentric dance."I'm in Training for You" - Jack Oakie and Zelma O'Neal did a novelty song and dance in a girl's gym.( I think Mitzi Mayfair was a featured dancer.)Maurice Chevalier came on for his first number "All I Want is Just One Girl" - it's great - Chevalier plays a gendarme who is helping out lovers in a park in Paris.Mitzi Green then comes out to sing the song as Maurice Chevalier and Moran and Mack would sing it. I actually really like her and found her very talented."Impulses" - I really loved - I thought it was very funny. George Bancroft (a movie tough guy of the day) in a sketch where people followed their impulses (elegant Kay Francis cracked a vase over Bancroft's head.)The finale was "Sweeping the Clouds Away". Maurice Chevalier was a chimney sweep with a chorus of pretty sweeps. It was originally in colour and would have been beautiful. Chevalier climbs a ladder to the top of the rainbow and the sweeps have transformed into the colours of the rainbow. I enjoyed this film so much.

drednm Well much of this Paramount landmark talkie is missing but what remains is entertaining and it's fun to see the old stars in their primes. Copying MGM's Hollywood Revue of 1929, which earned a best picture Oscar nomination and was a smash, Paramount on Parade has a lot of talent but the film seems cheesy compared to the MGM revue. However, this served as the talkie debut of a lot of stars on the Paramount lot. Among the major names: Clara Bow, Maurice Chevalier, Kay Francis, William Powell, Jean Arthur, Gary Cooper, Nancy Carroll, Ruth Chatterton, Fay Wray, Fredric March, Lillian Roth, Buddy Rogers. And also Jack Oakie, Mitzi Green, Leon Errol, Harry Green, Stu Erwin, Cecil Cunningham, Warner Oland, Eugene Palette, Clive Brook, Skeets Gallagher, Al Norman, Mary Brian, Zelma O'Neal, Helen Kane, George Bancroft, Mischa Auer, etc.Most of the skits are duds but the musical numbers of funny and snappy, especially Chevalier in "Sweeping Away the Clouds," Helen Kane in a "Poop-a-Doop" classroom number, 8-year-old Mitzi Green doing impressions, Clara Bow in her splashy Navy number, Nancy Carroll quite good in her "shoe" dance, and Jack Oakie and Zelma O'Neal in their gym number.Where the MGM film had unity via a master of ceremony (Jack Benny) this film seems like a bunch of "shorts" strung together but maybe that's because of the missing material.Most at ease among the many big stars are Clara Bow and Maurice Chevalier who are energetic, snappy, and not afraid of the mike..... Worth a look.