Roman Scandals

Roman Scandals
Directed by	Frank Tuttle
Written by	William Anthony McGuire based on the story by George Kaufman
Produced by	Samuel Goldwyn
Starring	Eddie Cantor Ruth Etting Gloria Stuart David Manners Edward Arnold
Cinematography	Ray June Gregg Toland
Edited by	Stuart Heiser
Music by	Alfred Newman
Production company	Samuel Goldwyn Productions
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	December 25, 1933 (1933-12-25)
Running time	93 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	US$1,000,000 (est.)
Box office	$2,443,000

Roman Scandals is a 1933 American black-and-white Pre-Code musical film starring Eddie Cantor, Ruth Etting, Gloria Stuart, Edward Arnold and David Manners. It was directed by Frank Tuttle. The film features a number of intricate production numbers choreographed by Busby Berkeley. The song "Keep Young and Beautiful" is from this film. In addition to the starring actors in the picture, the elaborate dance numbers are performed by the "Goldwyn Girls" (who in this film include future stars such as Lucille Ball, Paulette Goddard and Jane Wyman). The title of the film is a pun on Roman sandals.

Plot summary

When kind-hearted delivery boy and self-acclaimed authority on ancient Rome Eddie (Eddie Cantor) is thrown out of his home-town of West Rome, Oklahoma by scheming and corrupt politicians he protests that nothing of the sort would have been allowed to happen in ancient Rome. On his way out of town he imagines that he is back in Imperial Rome, where he is sold in a slave market to good-natured tribune Josephus (David Manners). Eddie soon discovers that Roman society was just as corrupt as in his own town and when he decides to do something about it he becomes involved in court intrigue and a murder plot against the evil Emperor Valerius (Edward Arnold) himself.

Cast list

• Eddie Cantor as Eddie/Oedipus
• The Goldwyn Girls as Slave Girls
• Ruth Etting as Olga
• Gloria Stuart as Princess Sylvia
• Edward Arnold as Emperor Valerius
• David Manners as Josephus
• Verree Teasdale as Empress Agrippa
• Alan Mowbray as Majordomo
• Jack Rutherford as Manius (as John Rutherford)
• Willard Robertson as Warren Finley Cooper
• Lee Kohlmar as Storekeeper
• Richard Alexander as Valerius' Soldier (uncredited)
• Stanley Andrews as Official (uncredited)
• Charles Arnt as Caius - the Food Taster (uncredited)
• Billy Barty as Little Eddie (uncredited)

Soundtrack

Eddie Cantor as Oedipus in Roman Scandals

• "Build a Little Home"

Music by Harry Warren

Lyrics by Al Dubin

Performed by Eddie Cantor and chorus

Reprised by Eddie Cantor and chorus

• "No More Love"

Music by Harry Warren

Lyrics by Al Dubin

Sung by Ruth Etting

Danced by chorus

• "Keep Young and Beautiful"

Music by Harry Warren

Lyrics by Al Dubin

Performed by Eddie Cantor with chorus

Danced by chorus

• "Put a Tax on Love"

Music by Harry Warren

Lyrics by Al Dubin

Sung by Eddie Cantor

• "All of Me"

Music by Gerald Marks

Lyrics by Seymour Simons

Sung by Eddie Cantor

• "Dinah"

Music by Harry Akst

Lyrics by Sam Lewis and Joe Young

Sung by Eddie Cantor

• "Kickin' the Gong Around"

Music by Harold Arlen

Lyrics by Ted Koehler

Sung by Eddie Cantor

• "Turkey in the Straw"

Traditional

Played in the opening scene

Critical response

• A written media review is located at: In: Monthly Film Bulletin (UK), Vol. 1, Iss. 8, September 1934, (MG)

See also

• List of American films of 1933

External links

• Roman Scandals at IMDb
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• [2]