FROM STAGE TO SCREEN … ROBERTA

Roberta – 1933

Music by Jerome Kern; Lyrics & book by Otto Harbach,
Based on Alice Duer Miller's novel Gowns by Roberta.

Songs: "You're Devastating," "Yesterdays," "The Touch of Your Hand," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "Let's Begin," "I'll Be Hard to Handle" (lyric, Bernard Dougall), "Something Had to Happen."

Broadway : New Amsterdam Theatre,
               
Opening: Nov 18, 1933
Closing: Jul 21, 1934
Total Performances: 295

CAST: Lyda Roberti (Clementina Scharwenka), Bob Hope (Huckleberry Haines), Fay Templeton (Aunt Min)

Though the reviews were unfavourable, Roberta had a successful run, thanks largely to the elegant mounting (incl. a fashion show) and the popularity of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes."

The musical brought Fay Templeton back to Broadway for her final performance, and also marked the first major appearance of Bob Hope. 

The libretto concerned itself with the romance between All-American fullback John Kent and Russian Princess Stephanie set in the Paris dress salon owned by John's Aunt Minnie, known as Roberta. At first Kern and Hammerstein directed the production originally tried out under the name Gowns by Roberta.

RKO, 1935, B/W, 105 minutes

Produced by: Pandro S. Berman
Directed by: William A. Seiter
Music by: Jerome Kern
Screen Play by: Jane Murfin, Sam Mintz and Allan Scott
Musical Director: Max Steiner
Dances Arranged by: Fred Astaire
Assistant Dance Director: Hermes Pan
Set Dressing by: Thomas K. Little
Gowns by: Bernard Newman

Awards:
Nominated for Best Song Academy Award ("Lovely To Look At")

Cast:
Irene Dunne (Stephanie),
Fred Astaire (Huck Haines),
Ginger Rogers (Countess Scharwenka, Lizzie Gatz),
Randolph Scott (John Kent),
Helen Westley (Roberta, Aunt Minnie),
Victor Varconi (Ladislaw)

TAGLINES:
A Heart-Load of Maddening Beauties.. In Gasping Gowns.. A Fortune in Furs.. A Ransom in Jewels.. In a Song-Studded Romance of Paris in Lovetime!
Jerome Kern's Queen of Musical Romances!

Release Date: 8 March 1935 (USA)

TECHNICAL ASPECTS:
Runtime: 106 min
Sound Mix: Mono (RCA Victor System)
Colour: Black and White
Aspect Ratio:1.37 : 1

SOUNDTRACK:

 

• "(Back Home Again In) Indiana"
• "Let's Begin"
• "Russian Lullaby"
• "I'll Be Hard to Handle"
• "Yesterdays"
• "I Won't Dance"
• "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"
• "Lovely to Look At"

Re-made starring Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Red Skelton, Marge & Gower Champion - called Lovely to Look At - MGM 1952 with Mervyn LeRoy director.