FACTOID # 131: United we stand? The United Kingdom and United States are both in the top ten for Gross Domestic Product - and for child poverty.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RELATED ARTICLES
People who viewed "Whoopee" also viewed:
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

FACTS & STATISTICS    Simple view

  1. Select countries to view: (hold down Control key and click to select several)

     

     

    Compare:

     

     

  1. Select fact or statistic: (* = graphable)

     

     

     

  2. (OPTIONAL) Compare to statistic: (both need to be graphable)

     

     

     

  3. View result as:

     

       
(OR) SEARCH ALL encyclopedia, stats & forums:   

Encyclopedia > Whoopee

This article is about Whoopee! the show and the film. For Whoopee! the comic, see Whoopee! (comic)


Whoopee! is a Broadway musical comedy which debuted on 4 December 1928. The book is by William Anthony McGuire, featuring music by Walter Donaldson and lyrics by Gus Kahn. The original version was produced by Florenz Ziegfeld and starred Eddie Cantor and Ruth Etting. The 2 act musical ran for 379 performances. A 1979 Broadway revival of the show ran 204 performances.


Whoopee! is a 1930 musical comedy film adaptation of the popular Broadway show of the same name. Directed by Thornton Freeland, it was made in 2-strip technicolor. It was produced by Florenz Ziegfeld and Samuel Goldwyn. Whoopee! made a movie star of Eddie Cantor, already one of the leading Vaudeville and phonograph record stars of the United States. Other stars in the film are Eleanor Hunt, Ethel Shutta, and Paul Gregory. Young Betty Grable also appears. The film also launched the Hollywood career of Busby Berkeley, and was Alfred Newman's first gig in Hollywood. Richard Day did the set designs and behind the camera was Gregg Toland, who later found fame with Orson Welles.


The story line of Whoopee! is somewhat aged by today's standards, but there are several interesting moments in the movie, particularly Cantor's rendition of the song "Whoopee!", and some of the big production numbers with the Goldwyn Girls - AKA the Ziegfield Girls.


Whoopee! is an important, but overlooked film in the history of the Hollywood musical. Made at the depth of the Great Depression, it had a ticket price of $5 when it opened, and made Samuel Goldwyn a lot of money at a time when his studio needed a hit.


In the history of musicals, it shows a look 5 years ahead if its time and foreshadows all of the great Warner Brothers musicals of the 1930s.



 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.