poster

The Show of Shows

The Show of Shows

Release: 1929-11-21·Runtime: 128m·★ 5.5
Music

Now hear this. The studio that gave the cinema its voice offered 1929 audiences a chance to see and hear multiple silent-screen favorites for the first time in a gaudy, grandiose music-comedy-novelty revue that also included Talkie stars, Broadway luminaries and of course, Rin-Tin-Tin. Frank Fay hosts a jamboree that, among its 70+ stars, features bicyclers, boxing champ Georges Carpentier, chorines in terpsichore kickery, sister acts, Myrna Loy in two-strip Technicolor as an exotic Far East beauty, John Barrymore in a Shakespearean soliloquy (adding an on-screen voice to his legendary profile for the first time) and Winnie Lightner famously warbling the joys of Singing in the Bathtub. Watch, rinse, repeat!

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

The Vitaphone Corporation
Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast

Molly O'DayMolly O'Dayas Performer in 'Meet My Sister' NumberShirley MasonShirley Masonas Performer in 'Meet My Sister' & 'Ladies of the Ensemble' NumbersWilliam Collier Jr.William Collier Jr.as Performer in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)Chester ConklinChester Conklinas Traffic Cop in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)William CourtenayWilliam Courtenayas The Minister - Guillotine Sequence (uncredited)Beatrice LillieBeatrice Lillieas Performer in 'Recitations' Number (uncredited)Dorothy Coonan WellmanDorothy Coonan Wellmanas (uncredited)Sally O'NeilSally O'Neilas Performer in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' & 'Meet My Sister' NumbersPatsy Ruth MillerPatsy Ruth Milleras Performer in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' & 'If I Could Learn to Love' NumbersMary AstorMary Astoras Performer in 'The Pirate' Number (uncredited)Ruth CliffordRuth Cliffordas Performer in 'Ladies of the Ensemble' Number (uncredited)Louise FazendaLouise Fazendaas 'Recitations' Sketch (uncredited)Monte BlueMonte Blueas Condemned Man (segment "Rifle Execution") (uncredited)Marceline DayMarceline Dayas Performer in 'Meet My Sister' NumberFrank FayFrank Fayas Master of CeremoniesBen TurpinBen Turpinas Waiter in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' NumberMarian NixonMarian Nixonas Performer in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' NumberH.B. WarnerH.B. Warneras The Victim - Guillotine Sequence (uncredited)Sôjin KamiyamaSôjin Kamiyamaas Performer in '$20 Bet' Sketch (as Sojin)ArmidaArmidaas Performer in 'Meet My Sister' Number (as Mimi Vendrell)John BarrymoreJohn Barrymoreas Richard III in 'Henry VI Part III' (uncredited)Lupino LaneLupino Laneas Street Cleaner in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' Number / 'Tramp' BalletWinnie LightnerWinnie Lightneras Performer in 'Pingo Pongo' & 'Singing in the Bathtub' NumbersGertrude OlmsteadGertrude Olmsteadas Performer in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)Alice DayAlice Dayas Performer in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' & 'Meet My Sister' NumbersSally BlaneSally Blaneas Performer in 'Meet My Sister' NumberJohnny ArthurJohnny Arthuras Hero - Performer in 'The Pirate' (uncredited)Lois WilsonLois Wilsonas Performer in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)Dolores CostelloDolores Costelloas Performer in 'Meet My Sister' NumberLila LeeLila Leeas Performer in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' NumberIrène BordoniIrène Bordonias Performer in 'Just for One Hour of Love' NumberGrant WithersGrant Withersas Performer in 'Bicycle Built for Two Number (uncredited)Loretta YoungLoretta Youngas Performer in 'Meet My Sister' NumberNoah BeeryNoah Beeryas Performer in "The Pirate" Number / Soldier (segment "Rifle Execution") (uncredited)Ethlyne ClairEthlyne Clairas Performer in 'Ladies of the Ensemble' Number (uncredited)Heinie ConklinHeinie Conklinas Ice Man in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' Number (uncredited)Helene CostelloHelene Costelloas Performer in 'Meet My Sister' NumberWilliam BakewellWilliam Bakewellas Performer in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)Richard BarthelmessRichard Barthelmessas Meet My Sister Presenter (uncredited)Douglas Fairbanks Jr.Douglas Fairbanks Jr.as Ambrose in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)Tully MarshallTully Marshallas Performer in "The Pirate" / Soldier (segment "Rifle Execution") (uncredited)Carmel MyersCarmel Myersas Performer in 'Ladies of the Ensemble' Number (uncredited)Myrna LoyMyrna Loyas Performer in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' & 'Chinese Fantasy' NumbersAnn SothernAnn Sothernas Performer in 'Meet My Sister' & 'Bicycle Built for Two' Numbers (as Harriet Lake)Betty CompsonBetty Compsonas Performer in 'The Pirate Number' & 'Lady Luck' Numbers (uncredited)Alice WhiteAlice Whiteas Performer in 'If I Could Learn to Love' Number (uncredited)Jack BuchananJack Buchananas Jack (uncredited)Lloyd HamiltonLloyd Hamiltonas Hansom Cabby in "What Became of the Floradora Boys" number" / (segment "Recitations") / Soldier (segment "Rifle Execution")Nick LucasNick Lucasas Lady Luck Solo for 'The Only Song I Know' & 'Chinese Fantasy' NumbersEdna MurphyEdna Murphyas Performer in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)Sid SilversSid Silversas Al Jolson Impersonator / Introducing Larry Ceballos Black and White Girls NumberGeorges CarpentierGeorges Carpentieras Boulevardier in 'If I Could Learn to Love' Number (uncredited)Jacqueline LoganJacqueline Loganas Performer in 'The Pirate' & 'Bicycle Built for Two' Numbers (uncredited)Jack MulhallJack Mulhallas Performer in '$20 Bet' Sketch and 'Bicycle Built for Two' NumberHobart BosworthHobart Bosworthas Executioner - Guillotine Sequence (uncredited)Sally EilersSally Eilersas Performer in 'Ladies of the Ensemble' Number (uncredited)Frances LeeFrances Leeas Performer in 'Ladies of the Ensemble' Number (uncredited)Marion ByronMarion Byronas Performer in 'Meet My Sister' NumberViola DanaViola Danaas Performer in 'The Pirate,' 'Meet My Sister' & 'Ladies of the Ensemble' NumbersAlberta VaughnAlberta Vaughnas Performer in 'Meet My Sister' NumberChester MorrisChester Morrisas Performer in $20 Bet Sketch and 'Bicycle Built for Two' Numbers