Flying High

This was Lahr's first starring feature film. It is based on his stage hit of the same name. He is completely over the top. This wild stage persona can also be seen in his shorts for Educational, but by the time he made "The Wizard of Oz", he had begun to calm down. Charlotte Greenwood plays the role originally done by Kate Smith on Broadway. She and Lahr make a fine combination. This film includes a doctor's office sketch which is quite risqué and is of questionable taste. Lahr keeps the film from being boring, but his energy can become very tiring. The De Sylva, Brown and Henderson musical numbers from the original show have been deleted, but there are a couple of new Dorothy Fields-Jimmy McHugh songs, with Busby Berkeley style "choreography", and of course, Lahr gets a musical number to show his stuff. All fans of the Cowardly Lion should check out this film.