5.2
Sunny is a 1941 film American film directed by Herbert Wilcox. It was adapted by Sig Herzig from the Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II musical play Sunny. It stars Anna Neagle, Ray Bolger, John Carroll, Edward Everett Horton, Grace Hartman, Paul Hartman, Frieda Inescort, and Helen Westley.
Anna Neagle
Sunny O'Sullivan
Ray Bolger
Bunny Billings
John Carroll
Larry Warren
Edward Everett Horton
Henry Bates
Grace Hartman
Juliet Runnymede
Paul Hartman
Egghead
Frieda Inescort
Elizabeth Warren
Helen Westley
Aunt Barbara
Benny Rubin
Maj. Montgomery Sloan
Martha Tilton
Queen of Hearts
Torben Meyer
Jean
Bess Flowers
Mrs. W. Wakefield
Halliwell Hobbes
Johnson
Edna Holland
Venus
Bert Moorhouse
Mr. Julian Duprez
Edmund Mortimer
Mr. Runnymeade
Larry Steers
Dr. Warren
Florence Wix
Mrs. H. Warren
Ernestine Clark
Acrobat
James Carlisle
Mr. W. Wakefield (uncredited)
Willa Pearl Curtis
Woman at Chicken Shack (uncredited)
Earl Clyde
Stilt Walker (uncredited)
Peggy Remington
Mrs. Runnymeade (uncredited)
Director
Herbert Wilcox
Screenplay
Sig Herzig
Theatre Play
Oscar Hammerstein II
Theatre Play
Otto A. Harbach
February 28, 2023
6
I wasn't quite sure about the casting of Anna Neagle in the early WWII remake of the 1930 song and dance romance, but she does ok. She's the eponymous circus star who falls hook, line and sinker for "Larry" (John Carroll). He's from nouveau riche (car-dealership) stock, and his family had far greater aspirations for their son than this big-top performer. Their relationship is not helped by the fact that her fellow artistes don't take to him much either, and so we embark on a rather routine all-singing and dancing, light-hearted and uncomplicated, "can the guy get the gal" exercise. Like so many stage actors of her day, Neagle was a better than competent dancer, a useful singer and is very much at ease here - if completely unchallenged by the rather unremarkable writing and the somewhat formulaic story. It's really only got the two notable songs - and these "Sunny" and "Who" - written by Oscar Hammerstein II , Otto Harbach & Jerome Kern appear in various refrains as the story trundles along to it's predestined conclusion. It's too long and is probably not a film you will ever recall watching. Indeed, I doubt those who made it would have recalled it for long either - but it does showcase the considerable versatility of the star and for that, is just about worth a watch.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00