Main Cast: George C. Scott, Barbara Harris, Eli Wallach, Trish VanDevere, Red Buttons
Release Year: 1978
Country: US
Run Time: 107 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
This spoof of a "typical" double-feature bill of the 1930s is introduced by George Burns, who explains that we're about to see two classic films produced by the legendary Warren Brothers. The first, "Dynamite Fists," is a black-and-white takeoff of such boxing dramas as Golden Boy. Harry Hamlin plays a John Garfield-like pugilist who is brought along by a tough-but-lovable fight promoter George C. Scott. Nasty gangster Eli Wallach attempts to compromise Hamlin by offering him the delectable Trish VanDevere, but Hamlin proves loyal to Scott. When Scott is killed by Wallach, Hamlin vows to become an attorney and bring the murderer to justice -- which he does in the space of one year. Along the way, Hamlin's gangster brother-in-law secures an eye operation for his nearly blind sister Kathleen Beller (whose bump-in-the-wall myopia is good for several laughs). After "Dynamite Fists," we are treated to a coming-attractions trailer for a Dawn Patrol-style aviation epic, again starring George C. Scott. The last segment, "Blansky's Beauties of 1933," is an all-stops-out Technicolor lampoon of Busby Berkeley musicals. Told by doctor Art Carney that he is dying, Broadway impresario Blansky (George C. Scott again) determines to produce one last spectacular show before the curtain goes down for good. The highlights in "Blansky's Beauties" are too numerous to mention here: memorable bits include composer Barry Bostwick's rooftop number, and the opening dialogue exchange between Carney and Scott (told that he has a month to live, Scott philosophically replies that at least he has 30 days left -- whereupon Carney dolefully reminds his patient that it's February). An additional sequence, parodying the Republic serials of the era, was filmed for Movie, Movie but cut from the final release print. Michael Kidd, who plays "Pop Popchick" in "Dynamite Fists," handled the choreography in "Blansky's Beauties." On the videocassette version of Movie, Movie, "Dynamite Fists" has been reprocessed in color. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Movie, Movie came about in response to the spate of spoofs (particularly those by Mel Brooks) that proliferated in the 1970s. Writer Larry Gelbart felt that the ideas behind most of them were good but couldn't sustain a full-length picture -- thus Movie, Movie's short "double feature" concept. There's a marvelous symmetry in the execution, with (practically) the entire cast of the first segment being carried over into the second. The writers and director Stanley Donen have a wonderful feel for the period, and while the entire enterprise is ultimately just a silly exercise, they treat it with the appropriate blend of seriousness and fun. While the "Dynamite Fists" segment is very amusing, it's the "Blansky's Beauties" feature that is the real keeper here. The bargain-basement Busby Berkeley-style musical numbers are executed to perfection, especially in the use of dancers on bicycles in the finale. The score is an amusing pastiche which produces quite a few chuckles. The cast is, for the most part, finely tuned into the appropriate style, with Barbara Harris, Michael Kidd, and Barry Bostwick especially noteworthy. Ironically, considering its origins, the film goes on a shade too long, but it's frothy, tongue-in-cheek fun that old movie aficionados will especially appreciate. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Barry Bostwick - Dick Cummings; Rebecca York - Kitty; Art Carney - Dr. Blaine/Dr. Bowers; Maide Norman - Gussie; Jocelyn Brando - Mama Popchik/Mrs. Updike; Harry Hamlin - Joey Popchik; Ann Reinking - Troubles Moran; Michael Kidd - Pop Popchik; Kathleen Beller - Angie Popchik; Barney Martin - Motorcycle Cop; Dick Winslow - Tinkle Johnson, Reporter; Sebastian Brook - Fritz; Paula Jones - Chorus Girl [Baxter's Beauties Of 1933]; John Henry - Chorus Boy [Baxter's Beauties Of 1933]; Clay Hodges - Sailor Lawson; George Wilbur - Tony Norion [Dynamite Hands]; Peter T. Stader - Barney Keegle [Dynamite Hands]; James Lennon; Denver Mattson - Sparring Partner [Dynamite Hands]; Jim Nickerson - [Dynamite Hands]; Wally Rose - Referee #2 [Dynamite Hands]; George Burns; James J. Casino - Keegle's Second [Dynamite Hands]; Brendan Dillon - Jury Foreman; Robert Herron - Mover #1 [Dynamite Hands]; Chuck Hicks - Hood #3 [Dynamite Hands]; John Bear Hudkins - Mover #2 [Dynamite Hands]; Tom Morga - [Dynamite Hands]; Harvey Perry - [Dynamite Hands]; Jack Slate - Fan #4 [Dynamite Hands]; Stanley Donen; Charles Lane - Judge Pennington; Michael Rodgers - Tiger Barnes [Dynamite Hands]; James Winburn - [Dynamite Hands]; Cliff Happy - K.O. Brown [Dynamite Hands]; Jimmy Lennon, Sr. - [Dynamite Hands]; Bud Ekins - [Dynamite Hands]; June McCall - Fan #3 [Dynamite Hands]; Fred Scheiwiller - Keegle's Manager [Dynamite Hands]; John R. McKee - [Dynamite Hands]; George Fisher - Hood #4 [Dynamite Hands]; Charlie Murray - [Dynamite Hands]
Credit
Jack Fisk - Art Director, Michael Kidd - Choreography, Pat Norris - Costume Designer, Patti Norris - Costume Designer, Jonathan Sanger - First Assistant Director, Stanley Donen - Director, George Hively - Editor, Martin Starger - Executive Producer, Ralph Burns - Composer (Music Score), Larry Gelbart - Songwriter, Sheldon Keller - Songwriter, Charles Rosher Jr. - Cinematographer, Bruce Surtees - Cinematographer, Stanley Donen - Producer, Martin Starger - Producer, Jerry Wunderlich - Set Designer, Chris Horner - Set Designer, Larry Gelbart - Screenwriter, Sheldon Keller - Screenwriter
Movie Movie is a 1978 musical comedy film directed by Stanley Donen. Movie Movie consists of two short films, both starring the husband-and-wife team of George C. Scott and Trish Van Devere, with a fake movie trailer sandwiched in between them.
The first feature, Dynamite Hands, is about a young man named Joey Popchik from a poor family, who dreams of one day becoming a lawyer. His sister is losing her eyesight, so he becomes a boxer to raise the money to have her cured. Along the way he gets seduced by fame and fortune, and runs afoul of a crooked boxing manager. In the end, his sister is cured, the villain is defeated, and Joey becomes a lawyer.
The trailer is for a war movie set in World War I.
The second feature, Baxter's Beauties of 1933, is a musical about a dying theatrical producer named Spats Baxter trying to create one last Broadway smash. It features a young woman whose dreams of performing on Broadway are finally coming true, a songwriter who's falling in love with her, and a spoiled actress who almost destroys the entire production with her drunkenness and reckless spending of the show's money. The show ends with both triumph and tragedy- the young actress is a success, but at the heights of his triumph Baxter dies in her arms, saying: "One minute you're standing in the wings- the next minute you're wearing 'em."
