Miniature Review
'Million Dollar Legs'(Par).
Collegiate Comedy with regulation campus capers. For lower duals in the program houses.

Million Dollar Legs

Hollywood, July 6.
Paramount release of William C. Thomas production. Directed by Nick Grinde. Screenplay by Lewis R. Foster and Richard English; based on a story by Foster; camera, Harry Fishbeck; editor, Arthur Schmidt; asst. director, Joseph Lefert. Previewed at Alexander, Glendale, July 2, '39. Running time; 61 MINS.
Carol Parker......................Betty Grable
Greg Melton.......................John Hartley
Sticky Boone......................Donald O'Connor
Russ Simpson......................Jackie Coogan
Susie Quinn.......................Dorothea Kent
Bunny Maxwell.....................Joyce Mathews
Freddie Fry.......................Peter Hayes
Coach Baxter......................Larry Crabbe
Hunk Jordan.......................Richard Denning
Buck Hogan........................Philip Warren
Blimp Garrett.....................Edward Arnold Jr.
Gregory Melton Sr.................Thurston Hall
Dean Wixby........................Roy Gordon
Ed Higgs..........................Matty Kemp
Egghead Jackson...................William Tracy

..... Latest collegiate comedy by Paramount is light and fluffy fare for youthful audiences of high school and college age. Devoid of marquee strength, picture will slip in as lower backeter in the subsequent duals.
..... As proving ground for Paramount's group of younger contract stock list, 'Million Dollar Legs' gives the studio a line on future possibilities of various cast individuals besides providing the latter with chance to get before the cameras during their apprenticeship.
..... Major fault of the picture is title misnomer. Tab indicates to audiences it a girly leg show - instead it parades the hefty gams of college athletes with crew inclinations. The underpinning display is more sturdy than shapely.
..... Story is simply and directly told with campus caper trimmngs. John Hartley, son of a millionaire benefactor of the college, tries to get along as an athlete without continual monetary interference from his father. Breezy Peter Hayes generates idea of reviving crew, but candidates have to struggle along with old equipment. Horse race tip given Hayes provides motivation for collection for bet which results in longshot win to buy a new shell and eventual win over traditional rivals.
..... Hayes stands out prominently in his first picture assignment. Youth nicely tempoes his lines for effective comedy, and gets over the cockiness and breeziness required in the role. He shows possibilities for future development. Betty Grable and John Hartley provide mild romantic interest, with Dorothea Kent seen briefly in some flapper comedy episodes
..... Horse race, unusual in being staged on a half-mile track, is not too exciting. Two boat races are included. First generates comedy twist when the shell gradually sinks under the oarsmen, while second is climactic affairs with the heroic crew grabbing victory in the final lengths. The latter hist no more than routine interest for the audience, despite some rather competent editing to reduce footage to a minimum.
..... Direction by Nick Grinde is geared at a fast pace, with comedy lines and situations neatly interwoven for moderate laughs.

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