froberts73
Certainly not a typical WB offering. Jack L must have been vacationing on the moon when this was being filmed. And, I am damn glad it was filmed.Some of the reviews were, as happens so often, pretentious as all get out, and they should get out.Bogie wanted out. Doesn't matter. He was the least in "Swing Your Lady." This flick belonged to everyone else appearing, particularly Louise Fazenda and Penny Singleton who, later, was so typecast as Blondie.She is a brunett-ie here and shows stuff she never had the opportunity to display elsewhere. Her dancing is pure fun, her near-operatic voice blending perfectly with The Weaver Brothers and Elviry - another plus for this crazy, fun piece.Usually, in films like these, such guests do a number, often short, but this time their wild talents were given free rein.The Maddox Brothers and Rose had a similar act, and they are, equally, my favorite hillbilly acts.A fat plus was the character who portrayed the bearded wrestler. He was a straight hoot and, last but far from least, Nat Pendleton as a not too bright wrassler was fabulous. After TCM showed this movie they showed "6,000 Enemies," again featuring Pendleton, this time as we usually see him - as a heavy."Swing Your Lady" had some of the best hillybilly music, the cast provided lotsa laughs with a damn clever/funny script.Gee - we used to get the funny stuff without the liberal use of the 'f' word, and all the accompanying sleaze.Hey, I'm not against sleaze if it's dun tastefully. EEE-haaa.
MARIO GAUCI
This odd little comedy is perhaps best-known for star Humphrey Bogart's personal put-down as his worst film and is, therefore, essential viewing for fans! In the same vein, having once suggested that only the 'phonies' liked BEAT THE DEVIL (1953), another film Bogie was disappointed by, I'd venture to say that only Ozarks and yokels will enjoy SWING YOUR LADY...In any case, it's hard to reconcile the fact that the film emerged from Warner Bros., who made such classic 'social conscience' dramas as THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA (1937) and ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES (1938) around this same time! It's certainly embarrassing to watch containing a lethal combination of interminable musical numbers and equally unbearable cornball folksiness but the supporting characters (Nat Pendleton, Frank McHugh and Allen Jenkins) and especially the climactic wrestling bout (although the film doesn't go through with its novelty idea of a male/female confrontation!) provide some undeniably amusing moments along the way. Clearly a "B" effort, made quickly and on the cheap (in fact, 6 Bogart films were released in 1938!), the film is one of only a handful of comedies he appeared in none of them very successful
majnttl
Yes, of COURSE this is a hokey movie, but that's what makes it so funny. Louise Fazenda steals the show. Bogey is uncomfortable in his role, to be sure, but who cares? It's entertaining and wasn't meant to be anything other than that. In my opinion, it is NOT a Bogey movie - it's Louise Fazenda all the way! The music is entertaining as well and, as usual, Frank McHugh and Allen Jenkins do their part well. My favorite scene?.....Bogey asking Fazenda if she wants to "wrassle" (not meaning to wrestle him). She throws him to the ground in one fell swoop and says, "Now, say 'Hootie Owl'." I think it loses in translation...but I laughed out loud.
cnevel
This film is cute and humorous.There are two reasons that this film is derided by the comments and the ratings.The first is that people believe that Bogart should not have been in it.The second is that it is a hillbilly film.If Bogart had not been in this film the rating would be 3 or 4 points higher.In most cases, an actor who looks out of place when out of his genre is considered to be a bad actor.In this case, since it is Bogart, the film is blamed instead.It is suggested that the acting is poor. It is not.Most of these actors are experienced and their acting is just as good as always.The same actors in other Bogart films are always considered to have give good performances, as they did in this film.The Weavers were not actors but did their hillbilly act for many years.They were in quite a few films and were very popular.My mother saw them in 1951 in Washington D.C. on a class trip.Most people today just believe that they are above hillbilly humor.It is called political correctness.Give this film a shot.Ignore the fact that Bogart is in it and enjoy.
AD
