Cinderella Swings It
Cast & Crew
Christy Cabanne
Guy Kibbee
Gloria Warren
Dick Hogan
Leonid Kinskey
Helen Parrish
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
"Professor" Vladimir Smitken, a music teacher in the small New England town of Coldriver, takes his star pupil, Betty Palmer, to New York City to audition for his old friend, Broadway impresario Brock Harris. Back in Coldriver, band leader Tommy Stewart laments that he is unable to enlist in the army until he finishes school, so Scattergood Baines, the successful storekeeper and sage of Coldriver, suggests that the boy join the war effort by organizing a show for the local USO. Meanwhile, in New York City, Harris fails to remember the professor and impatiently dismisses Betty's operatic singing style as being hopelessly old-fashioned and uncommercial. When Scattergood learns that Betty has returned home to Coldriver, he asks Tommy to include her in the show. At the rehearsal that night, Betty's classical style provokes titters in the young audience, and she runs from the stage, humiliated. Scattergood's faith in Betty's ability remains unshaken, however, and he gives her a set of disks recorded by popular women vocalists, encouraging her to learn their modern style. Tommy's offer to help Betty develop a new style provokes jealousy in Sally Benson, a local girl with designs on the young band leader. After learning that Harris has a weakness for fishing, Scattergood goes to New York to invite the impresario to enjoy the rich fishing waters of Coldriver. Unable to resist Scattergood's offer, Harris accompanies him back to Coldriver. Engrossed in an afternoon of fishing, Harris misses the last train back to New York, and Scattergood suggests that he attend the USO show that evening. After Harris reluctantly agrees to watch the first part of the show, Scattergood tells Tommy to have Betty open the show and arranges for the professor to be shanghaied back stage so that his pupil will not feel apprehensive about abandoning his classical teaching for the new style of swing. Sally, still jealous of Betty, tries to sabotage her rival's opportunity by delaying her at the hairdresser. Her scheme almost works as the impatient Harris rises from his seat and begins to walk out of the theater. He stops in his tracks, however, when Betty steps onstage and begins to sing a swing tune. Harris recognizes Betty's talent just as the professor frees himself backstage and enters the auditorium in time to accept Harris' congratulations.
Director
Christy Cabanne
Cast
Guy Kibbee
Gloria Warren
Dick Hogan
Leonid Kinskey
Helen Parrish
Billy Lenhart
Kenneth Brown
Dink Trout
Pierre Watkin
Lee "lasses" White
Fern Emmett
Ed Waller
Kay Linaker
Grace Costello
Christine Mcintyre
Johnson Brothers
Ramon Ros
Willie Best
Crew
Jerrold T. Brandt
John E. Burch
Richard Cahoon
Ted Grouya
Bernard Herzbrun
George Jessel
Jerrie Kruger
Arthur Martinelli
Frank Melford
Ben Oakland
Ferol Redd
Paul Sawtell
Michael L. Simmons
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was Scattergood Swings It. The Hollywood Reporter review notes that "Scattergood" was removed from the title because the series was not performing well at the box office. In the opening credits, Billy Lenhart and Kenneth Brown were billed as "Butch and Buddy." A Hollywood Reporter news item adds that production on the film was postponed from June to August 1942 to allow time for producer Jerrold Brandt to add the USO show to the plot. This was Brandt's last production at RKO before leaving for military service. It was also the last film in the "Scattergood Baines" series. For additional information on the series, please consult the Series Index and see the entry below for Scattergood Baines.
