This week’s mystery movie was the 1938 Twentieth Century-Fox film Happy Landing, with Sonja Henie, Don Ameche, Ethel Merman, Cesar Romero, Jean Hersholt, Billy Gilbert, Raymond Scott Quintet, Wally Vernon and Leah Ray.
Original screenplay by Milton Sperling and Boris Ingster.
Music and lyrics by Sam Pokrass and Jack Yellen.
You Appeal to Me by Walter Bullock and Harold Spina.
War Dance of the Wooden Indians by Raymond Scott.
Dances staged by Harry Losee.
Photographed by John Mescall.
Art direction by Bernard Herzbrun and Mark-Lee Kirk.
Set decoration by Thomas Little.
Edited by Louis Loeffler.
Costumes by Royer.
Sound by Eugene Grossman and Roger Heman.
Musical direction by Louis Silvers.
Associate producer David Hempstead.
Directed by Roy Del Ruth.
Further information on Happy Landing is available from the AFI Catalog.
Happy Landing is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
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What? Another Twentieth Century-Fox musical? That’s how it turned out. I picked Happy Landing by going through the trades and noticed that it has aired seldom – if ever – on TCM. It’s a light, amusing tale with lots of skating and many closeups of Sonja Henie. Raymond Scott and the Quintet (making a six piece ensemble) perform, touching off reminiscences of Powerhouse in Warner Bros. cartoons.
I would expect Bosley Crowther to disapprove of such goings-on.
Frank S. Nugent draws the job (The New York Times, Jan. 22, 1938):
Since an opportunity to watch Sonja Henie pirouette on ice is justification in itself for any film’s existence, Twentieth Century-Fox is to be double thanked this morning for adding an ingenious script and a sheaf of engaging supporting players to its skating star’s latest picture. Happy Landing, at the Roxy, is not so much a variation of the old musical comedy formula as a successful realization of it. It has pace, humor, spectacle and a pleasant, if minor, score. And best of all it has Miss Henie, who cuts her icy capers so effortlessly that we were tempted to dash right over to the Rockefeller Center plaza and try a bit of it ourselves. (We resisted, though).
For Monday, we have two mysterious fellows.
Update: This is Steve and Nick Condos per;forming as the Condos Brothers.
For Tuesday, we have a …. what is going on here?
Update: This is Wally Vernon.
Brain Trust roll call: Suznchaz (mystery movie, mystery guests and mysterious cast), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and mystery guests) and Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie, mysterious guests and mystery dance number, plus mysterious composer).
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Jean Hersholt.
Brain Trust roll call: Anne Papineau (mystery movie, Monday’s and Tuesday’s mysterious guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s mystery guest) and Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s mystery guest and mysterious companion).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Ethel Merman.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery gent), Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mystery gent), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery fellow), Benito (admiring the mutton chops on Wednesday’s mystery gent), Sheila (Tuesday’s mystery man) and Megan and Thom (mystery movie, Monday’s mysterious dancers and Wednesday’s mystery fellow).
For Friday, we have an abundance of mystery folks!
Update: This is, from left, Wally Vernon, William Wagner, Don Ameche, Sonja Henie, Cesar Romero and Ethel Merman.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery woman), B.J. Merholz Thursday’s mystery woman), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery woman), Sylvia E. (mystery movie, all mystery guests, mysterious musical number and mystery composer of musical novelties), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery woman) and L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast).
ladailymirror.com 
I’m guessing NIGHTMARE ALLEY (1947).
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An interesting guess! But alas, I’m afraid not.
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The Condos Brothers as dancing wooden Indians in “Happy Landing” 1938, starring Sonja Henie, Don Ameche, Cesar Romero!
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The Condos Brothers in HAPPY LANDING.
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“War Dance for Wooden Indians” by Raymond Scott from HAPPY LANDINGS with The Condos Brothers.
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Superb Condos Brothers as the tap dancing cigar store Indians, and Wally Vernon doing a striptease in “Happy Landing.”
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Allen Jenkins dancing the Hootchie Koo.
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My first guess would have been Allen Jenkins, but, alas, it’s another fellow.
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How about that!
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Wally Vernon.
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Harold Goodwin and Wally Vernon.
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Definitely Allen Jenkins today. Can’t blow up image on phone to see anyone else clearly. Obviously WB mid 1930s
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Allen Jenkins would have been my first guess as well. But, alas, it’s someone else.
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Jean Hersholt.
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On Wednesday, Jean Hersholt as Sona’s papa.
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Jean Hersholt.
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Allen Jenkins in undies? PS nice mutton chops today
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Wally Vernon for Tuesday?
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Our movie is Happy Landing with Jean Hersholt for today, and the Condos Brothers on Monday.
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Ethel Merman.
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Ethel Merman?
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Ethel Agnes Zimmermann on Thursday.
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Thank you Ms Merman.
“Happy Landing” 1938
Mon – brothers, Nick and Steve Condo dancing to ‘War Dance for Wooden Indians’.
Tues – Wally Vernon
Wed – Jean Hersholt
Thur – Ethel Merman singing ‘Hot and Happy’ to an OS Cesar Romero (who’ll appear tomorrow I’m guessing w/ Sonja Henie and Don Ameche)
Looking into that ‘War Dance’ number and finding a clip of it solved a mystery for me. The song used was written by Raymond Scott, who was also an inventor. Anyhoo, turns out he also wrote a song used in several Looney Tunes cartoons. Carl W. Stalling would drop in Scott’s “Powerhouse” whenever a cartoon had scenes involving construction, conveyor belts, etc. When I see those things in real life “Powerhouse” music pops into my head. I never knew the name of it until now. Great!
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Ethel Merman.
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Happy Landing (1938) w/Jean Hersholt, Ethel Merman, Sonja Henie, Don Ameche, Billy Gilbert, Cesar Romero, Wally Vernon, Condos Brothers…
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This was fun.
Friday’s double wedding:
Wally Vernon, Don Ameche, Sonja Henie, Cesar Romero and Ethel Merman. The BOTHJOP is William Wagner.
Looking forward to the Saturday breakdown.
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Wally Vernon, William Wagner, Sonja Henie, Don Ameche, Cesar Romero and Ethel Merman.
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