EVERGREEN
UK, 1934, 90 minutes, Black and white.
Jessie Matthews, Sonny Hale, Betty Balfour, Barry Mackay, Ivor Mc Laren, Hartley Power.
Directed by Victor Saville.
Evergreen was a star vehicle for the popular singer-dancer, Jessie Matthews. It is an entertaining musical, reminiscent of the musicals of the '30 and '40s from the United States. However, it is a very British production.
The film was directed by Victor Saville who later went to Hollywood and whose films ranged from Green Dolphin Street to Mickey Spillane's The Long Wait.
The musical score is by Rodgers and Hart and the staging of some of the dance routines, especially in the final revues, the influence of the Warner Bros musicals (and perhaps Busby Berkeley) are quite evident.
The story has a nostalgia for the Edwardian days of the music hall stars as well as showing us the show business style of London of 1934. The plot is quite implausible with a daughter impersonating her mother making a comeback at the age of sixty. However, all is revealed in a good-natured British way at the end. An interesting curio of the British film industry of the '30s, of the influence of American films on British films of the period - and a chance to see and hear Jessie Matthews.
1. Entertaining British musical? Of the early '30s?
2. British production, black and white photography, London, Edwardian period, the '30s? The theatre? The musical numbers by Rodgers and Hart? The singing, the staging, dancing?
3. The title, the reference to Harriet, to her daughter?
4. 1904: the Edwardian period, theatre, the audiences, Harriet Green and her success, the musical numbers, the finale with `Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow-Wow'? Her going to get married, her suitor and the people's acclaim? The encounter with George, her daughter, the secret? Her decision to leave for South Africa?
5. 1934: the Depression, musicals and auditions? Harriet the daughter and her going to the audition, Benns and his putting off the auditions? Harriet going again, the encounter with Thompson? Maudie and the memories of Harriet? Thompson and his idea about Harriet impersonating her mother? The governess, Benns and Maudie in on the deception? The plans, the publicity for the people? The comeback at sixty? The rehearsals, the song and dance routines, Harriet and her agreement? Learning about her mother? The press conference and her carrying it off? Thompson having to be her son? The encounter with her mother's fiance? The continued pressure, the fear of being accused of impersonation? The plan for telling the truth? The successful revue, with Thompson? The fiance and his providing a house for them? The revelation that he had understood it from the beginning - and wanted them to get away with it? The encounters with George, his wanting money from them? Their wanting him to expose them? The final dance, her unmasking herself, reaction of the audience? Acceptance? Benns and his pleading for support from the audience? The court case, the lawyer arguing that she hadn't defrauded and had given the audiences what they expected and wanted? The happy ending?
6. Thompson, his relationship with Benns, publicity stunts, the angry actress? His being sacked, encountering Harriet, the brainwave, establishing it, involvement, being her son? Falling in love, their clashes, the dance routines? Performance? The clashes with George and the money? His declaration of love on stage? Happy ending?
7. Benns, dancing, directing, auditions, his assistant holding the stool for him? His moods? Clashes with Thompson, the plan, Maudie? The musical and the rehearsal? Training Harriet? The success, his fear of being unmasked? The finale and his explanation?
8. Maudie, friendship with Harriet, the proposal, her marriage, wanting to make a comeback? Seeing Harriet Jnr, in on the plan, helping her? Enjoying the impersonation?
9. George, the cad, his relationship with Harriet, not interested in their daughter? Blackmail? Turning up again, with Harriet, with Thompson, their letting him think that he could expose them?
10. The fiance, love for Harriet, her letter, the possibility of the engagement with Harriet Jnr, his revealing that he knew everything from the start?
11. Probability of the plot - and it not mattering because of the verve of the stars, the energy of the songs and dances? The comparisons with the musicals coming out of Hollywood at the same time?
