Paramount on Parade

Paramount on Parade is a 1930 American pre-Code musical comedy film, produced by Adolph Zukor and Jesse L. Lasky, and directed by a team of prominent filmmakers, including Dorothy Arzner, Otto Brower, Edmund Goulding, Victor Heerman, Edwin H. Knopf, Rowland V. Lee, Erle C. Kenton, Lothar Mendes, Victor Schertzinger, A. Edward Sutherland, and Frank Tuttle. The film features an ensemble cast, including Maurice Chevalier, Richard Arlen, Jean Arthur, George Bancroft, Clara Bow, Evelyn Brent, Mary Brian, Leon Janney, Fredric March, Jack Oakie, William Powell, Mack Swain, and Mitzi Green, and showcases the talents of Paramount Pictures' contract stars. The film's screenplay was written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, George S. Kaufman, and Dorothy Parker, among others, and features a range of musical numbers and comedy sketches. The film's cinematography was handled by Harry Fischbeck, Victor Milner, and Charles Lang, who worked on other notable films, such as The Lady Eve and The Lost Weekend.

● Introduction

Paramount on Parade was a groundbreaking film that brought together some of the biggest stars of the time, including Maurice Chevalier, who had recently appeared in The Love Parade and The Big Pond, and Clara Bow, who was known as the It girl and had starred in films like It and Wings. The film was designed to showcase the talents of Paramount Pictures' contract stars, and featured a range of musical numbers, comedy sketches, and dramatic scenes. The film's production was a major undertaking, involving a team of prominent directors, writers, and cinematographers, including Dorothy Arzner, who had directed films like The Wild Party and Sarah and Son, and Edmund Goulding, who had worked on films like Grand Hotel and Riptide. The film's cast also included Jean Arthur, who had appeared in films like The Canary Murder Case and The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu, and George Bancroft, who had starred in films like Underworld and The Docks of New York.

● Production

The production of Paramount on Parade was a complex and ambitious project, involving a team of over 20 directors, writers, and cinematographers. The film was shot on a range of sets, including the Paramount Pictures studio lot, and featured a range of musical numbers, including songs by Maurice Chevalier and Mitzi Green. The film's production team included Adolph Zukor and Jesse L. Lasky, who had produced films like The Ten Commandments and The Covered Wagon, and Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who had written the screenplay for films like Monkey Business and Dinner at Eight. The film's cinematography was handled by Harry Fischbeck, who had worked on films like The Lady Eve and The Lost Weekend, and Victor Milner, who had shot films like The Ten Commandments and The Sign of the Cross. The film's editing was overseen by Edwin H. Knopf, who had worked on films like The Love Parade and The Big Pond.

● Cast

The cast of Paramount on Parade was a veritable who's who of Hollywood stars, including Maurice Chevalier, Richard Arlen, Jean Arthur, George Bancroft, Clara Bow, Evelyn Brent, Mary Brian, Leon Janney, Fredric March, Jack Oakie, William Powell, Mack Swain, and Mitzi Green. The film also featured appearances by Nancy Carroll, who had starred in films like The Devil's Holiday and Laughter, and Ruth Chatterton, who had appeared in films like Madame X and The Magnificent Flirt. The cast's performances were overseen by a team of directors, including Dorothy Arzner, who had directed films like The Wild Party and Sarah and Son, and Edmund Goulding, who had worked on films like Grand Hotel and Riptide. The film's cast also included Kay Francis, who had appeared in films like Girls About Town and Trouble in Paradise, and Bing Crosby, who had starred in films like The Big Broadcast and Going Hollywood.

● Music

The music in Paramount on Parade was a key element of the film, with a range of songs and musical numbers performed by the cast. The film featured songs by Maurice Chevalier, including "Sweeping the Clouds Away" and "One Hour with You", as well as performances by Mitzi Green and Jack Oakie. The film's musical numbers were overseen by Victor Schertzinger, who had worked on films like The Love Parade and One Hour with You, and A. Edward Sutherland, who had directed films like The Baby Cyclone and What a Night!. The film's score was composed by Howard Jackson, who had worked on films like The Love Parade and The Big Pond, and Ralph Rainger, who had composed music for films like The Big Broadcast and Love in Bloom.

● Release

Paramount on Parade was released in 1930, and was a major commercial success, grossing over $2 million at the box office. The film was released in both sound film and silent film versions, to accommodate theaters that had not yet converted to sound. The film's release was accompanied by a major marketing campaign, including posters and trailers featuring the film's stars, including Maurice Chevalier and Clara Bow. The film was distributed by Paramount Pictures, and was released in a range of countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. The film's release was also supported by a range of promotional events, including premieres and screenings at major theaters, such as the Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Radio City Music Hall.

● Reception

The reception of Paramount on Parade was largely positive, with critics praising the film's energetic and entertaining performances. The film was praised by critics like Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times, who wrote that the film was "a lively and amusing revue" with "a number of clever and amusing sketches". The film was also praised by critics like Variety, who wrote that the film was "a big, lavish, and entertaining show" with "a lot of good music and comedy". However, some critics, like The New Yorker, were less enthusiastic, writing that the film was "a rather dull and uninteresting revue" with "too many dull and uninteresting sketches". Despite this, the film remains a notable example of the musical comedy genre, and continues to be celebrated for its energetic and entertaining performances. The film's legacy can be seen in later films, such as The Gold Diggers of 1933 and 42nd Street, which also featured ensemble casts and musical numbers. The film's influence can also be seen in the work of later directors, such as Busby Berkeley and Vincente Minnelli, who went on to create some of the most iconic musicals of the Golden Age of Hollywood.