Every Night at Eight

The thin plot of Every Night at Eight is practically nonexistent, and it's stretched out with endless songs and musical numbers that you may or may not want to fast-forward. While "I Feel a Song Coming On" is pretty cute, you definitely won't want to miss "I'm in the Mood for Love" sung by Frances Langford several times throughout.

Alice Faye, Patsy Kelly, and Frances Langford are three friends who want to make it as singers. They enter an amateur radio contest and meet a handsome, charming bandleader, George Raft. Frances falls for George, but his aloofness and all-business attitude makes her doubt whether her love is requited. Meanwhile, George leads everyone to stardom, and Alice and Patsy enjoy their furs and penthouse apartments. There's not much to this movie, but if you like the cast, you'll want to watch it. Alice is "the singing Jean Harlow", Patsy gives hilarious wisecracks every chance she opens her mouth, and George is extremely handsome, reminding everyone that had he not turned down seven Humphrey Bogart roles including Casablanca, the end of that classic might have been different.

Three young women get fired from their jobs, have no money or place to stay, and attempt to get on their feet again by entering a radio competition. They carry a nice tune, but after losing to 'Tops' Cardona (George Raft) and his orchestra, they join up with Tops and follow his somewhat stern direction in the hopes of advancing their careers.

The three women are played by Alice Faye, Frances Langford, and Patsy Kelly, and while I enjoyed Kelly's pluck and Langford's singing, I have to say, the film was a little lacking in star power to put it over the top. Alice Faye is a bit like Jean Harlow lite, and Raft is not as effective here as in films like Scarface, though I did like the little bit of cool dancing he did while conducting at one point. Along those lines, in this film we get some banter, but it's banter-lite, most likely because the Hays Code was enforced as of the previous year.

The plot is somewhat thin, but the film moves along pretty well in its 80 minutes. There are some cute amateur acts including an old woman who sings like a chicken, and it was nice to see African-American singer James Miller belt out "I Feel a Song Coming On". The real highlight, though, was Langford performing "I'm in the Mood for Love", and while the song has been covered countless times over the years, this was its first appearance. As a whole, the film is reasonably entertaining, though not very memorable.

Three adorable but out of work and homeless women try to win $100 in amateur contest on the radio, but when Susan (Frances Langford) passes out from lack of food, the prize goes to supremely confident and good-looking band leader Tops (George Raft). Once he really hears them sing, however, he brings them on board with his band. And by working them day and night brings them success with their own radio program. But his hyper-strict rules have Dixie (Alice Faye) and Daphne (Patsy Kelly) chafing for some freedom. Though Susan has quietly fallen for Tops, she goes along with the girls' scheme to buck his authority and possibly ruin his show.

Sure it's not much of a plot, but this is a good-natured showcase for a host of talents and great wisecracks from Patsy Kelly. The girls are fun, Faye and particularly Langford get great solos. Langford makes "I'm in the Mood for Love" a standard. Raft, besides looking cool, gets to do a little dancing. Harry Barris has some rousing if brief little vocal ditties. And truly marvelous is uncredited singer James Miller, who takes over in the middle of the extended "I Feel a Song Coming On" number.

If you're a fan of old-time radio you'll recognize all the corny exchanges and weird acts on the "gong show" radio program and maybe try to sing like a chicken yourself.

"Every Night at Eight" is a bit of fluff whose biggest distinction is that it introduced the classic "I'm in the Mood for Love"...sung by Frances Langford. Otherwise, it's pretty forgettable...aside from the Chicken Lady! Yes, in a tiny scene. three lady friends are in a talent contest and one of the contestants sings like a chicken. It's VERY funny and that as well as the song are the only reasons to watch this one. Even the stars aren't at their best here.

Patsy Kelly, Alice Faye (on loan from her home studio) and Frances Langford play Daphne, Dixie and Susan and they are all friends who work and sing together. But when the boss catches them badmouthing him, they're fired. So, they decide to try at being professional singers. So, they go on a radio talent show...and lose to a hot new band headed by 'Tops' Cardona (George Raft...who is totally wasted in the film). But Cardona is impressed by their singing and insists they join his band. And, success does come...but rather slowly and the ladies see little in the way of money or fun. What's next?

The film has a lot of music and the three women sound pretty good. But the relationship between Susan and Tops is completely underwritten and comes from out of left field. The same would go for the end of the film. It all just seemed rushed, formulaic and nothing special. Kelly comes off pretty good here but Alice Faye and the rest have little in the way of personality and charisma. Not bad...just not all that interesting.

Three girl -- Patsy Kelly, Frances Langford, and Alice Faye make a play for a career as a singing trio by going on Walter Catlett's amateur hour show. They miss, but the winning act, George Raft and his band, hire them and eventually get a rich radio contract, billing them as 'The Swanee Sisters.' Raft is all business, which annoys them, particularly Miss Langford.

Despite the talent in front of the camera, and director Raoul Walsh, it's a fairly standard musical, with a ridiculous variety show during the Catlett segment. What makes this stand out are the Jimmy McHugh-Dorothy Field songs, including "I Feel A Song Coming On" and the standout number, Miss Langford introducing "I'm In The Mood For Love". Songwriter Harry Barris ("Mississippi Mud", "I Surrender Dear") demonstrates a fine voice.