The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I happened to see the excellent early talkie Sally 1929 on TCM and learned that this is the show that had Jerome Kern's hit song Look for the Silver Lining, although the song was written in 1919. This movie was shot in early color, but the movie negative disintegrated. But TCM found a black and white copy, as well as a clip of surviving color. I'm glad I recorded it. Marilyn Miller is the star of the movie, but was also in the original stage production in 1920!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOthCD8n0mA

The movie also has maybe the first appearance of Joe E. Brown:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjz2fiuh_Ws

A curiosity question to our British members.. This film, or the musical from which it is taken, has something to do with the famous Sally sung by Gracie Fields?

There's no connection between the Gracie Fields' Sally, which derives from a song, Sally in our Alley, written in 1725, and the American musical Sally.

It isn't Brown's first film - though it is one of his early starring appearances. He started out in the silent era in small parts but rose quickly.

Yes, I found that out after researching him. Laurel and Hardy may be better known now than Joe E. Brown, but at that time, he was the highest paid comedian in film.

Sally was available complete (but no color) on a laserdisc in one of the "Dawn of sound" box sets.

It's also available from the TCM library right now. My brother showed me a list of TCM movies on his iPad that he could instantly relay to his tv for watching.

Marilynn Miller was great in this film. She helps highlight the great stars who worked for Ziegfeld in the Follies. Eddie Cantor, Marion Harris and Bert Williams made many records. I do not recall seeing a discography of Miller but I suspect it is slim. I have never come across a Miller recording.

Governor Flyball wrote:Marilynn Miller was great in this film. She helps highlight the great stars who worked for Ziegfeld in the Follies. Eddie Cantor, Marion Harris and Bert Williams made many records. I do not recall seeing a discography of Miller but I suspect it is slim. I have never come across a Miller recording.

She did not record. Her singing was good enough when considered as a part of her stage personality, but was not all that good in itself.

estott wrote:She did not record. Her singing was good enough when considered as a part of her stage personality, but was not all that good in itself.

I think she was known more for her dancing, as this semi-technicolor scene showcases:

(Double-click the video above or click this link to watch the video on YouTube in HD.)

Shame she died so young -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Miller

OrthoFan