New Faces of 1937


New Faces of 1937 is a 1937 American musical film directed by Leigh Jason and starring Joe Penner, Milton Berle and Harriet Hilliard. Its plot is similar to The Producers. Intended as the first film of an annual RKO Pictures revue series, poor reception ended plans for future productions.

Plot

A crooked theatrical producer deliberately sets about creating an unsuccessful show after selling more than 100% of it to investors.

Cast

Production

An alternate title for this film, which was in production from late March to mid-May 1937, had been listed as Young People. Singer Rene Stone, who appears in the film, was discovered by Edward Small singing while cleaning dishes in a Manhattan restaurant.

Soundtrack

  • "New Faces"
  • "The Widow in Lace"
  • "Our Penthouse on Third Avenue"
  • "It Goes to Your Feet"
  • "If I Didn't Have You"
  • "Love Is Never Out of Season"
  • "When the Berry Blossoms Bloom"
  • "Peckin'"
  • "Bridal Chorus "
  • '''"The Wedding March"'''

Reception

The film recorded a loss of $258,000. Reviews were mixed.
The film was meant to be the first in a series of musical revues designed to introduce new RKO talent, but this did not eventuate. Film writers Richard B. Jewell and Vernon Harbin wrote that:
Containing not a single memorable musical number or inspired comedy routine, this tedious mish-mash caused the studio embarrassment a-plenty. Theatre owners and audiences displayed such hostility towards the Edward Small production in general, and Penner and Parkyakaras in particular, that RKO cancelled plans to make a New Faces of 1938.