Main Cast: Bing Crosby, Carole Lombard, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Ethel Merman
Release Year: 1934
Country: US
Run Time: 77 minutes
Plot
We're Not Dressing is a bouncy musical-comedy variation of J. M. Barrie's The Admirable Crichton -- complete with a happier ending, as befitting its jaunty star Bing Crosby. Der Bingle is cast as Stephen Jones, a lowly crew member on yacht owned by wealthy Doris Worthington (Carole Lombard). During one memorable voyage, Doris' inebriated Uncle Dudley (Leon Errol) mans the controls of the yacht, and the result is a shipwreck on a tropical isle. Doris and her marooned society friends are then obliged to take orders from Stephen, the only one among them who knows how to fend for himself. He even manages to win over the icy Doris, though it's quite a struggle right up to the fade-out. Ethel Merman is on hand for a song or two (including a rollicking duet with Leon Errol), while George Burns and Gracie Allen show up on the not-so-deserted island as anthropologists with a full quota of rib-tickling verbal gags. Everyone involved in the making of We're Not Dressing harbored happy memories of the film, though Ray Milland (cast as Doris' snooty society fiancé) had less pleasant memories of the trained bear which figures prominently in the opening scenes. Bing Crosby's musical numbers include two of his best, "May I" and "Love Thy Neighbor." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
No one would ever accuse We're Not Dressing of being a great musical, but this early Bing Crosby starrer has its share of charms. Chief among them is "Der Bingle" himself, still young enough for his charm to shine through naturally, with no sign of forcing. Since Crosby's onscreen persona had not solidified in 1934, he's a bit rougher, especially during the film's climax. Many will feel a bit disturbed by Crosby's actions toward Carole Lombard in this sequence, but they also have the effect of showing some small moment of truth in what is otherwise a fairly artificial film. As the woman who loves him against her wishes, Lombard is in fine form, but the part regrettably does not allow her to display her comedic gifts; as a result, Lombard gets a bit grating at times. Although Crosby gets the overwhelming lion's share of the songs (almost all of which occur within the first half hour or so), Ethel Merman does get to score solidly with her part of "It's a New Spanish Custom" and an incredibly brief portion of "It's the Animal in Me." (The generous score also includes lovely Crosby renditions of "May I" and "Love Thy Neighbor" and an amusing "She Reminds Me of You.") George Burns and Gracie Allen are exactly the same here as in their other film appearances, although hampered a bit by below-average material. Though nothing special, Dressing is an affable, friendly little film . ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Leon Errol - Hubert; Jay Henry - Prince Alexander Stofani; Ray Milland - Prince Michael Stofani; John Irwin - Old Sailor; Charles Morris - Captain; Ben Hendricks, Jr. - 1st Ship's Officer; Ted Oliver - 2nd Ship's Officer; Ernie S. Adams - Sailor; Stanley Blystone - Doris' Officer
