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| Hollywood Steps Out | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Supervision: Fred Avery |
| Story by | Dave Monahan |
| Produced by | Leon Schlesinger |
| Starring | Sara Berner Mel Blanc Kent Rogers |
| Edited by | Treg Brown |
| Music by | Carl W. Stalling |
| Animation by | Rod Scribner |
| Color process | Technicolor |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 7:45 |
| Language | English |
Hollywood Steps Out is a 1941Warner Bros.Merrie Melodies cartoon short directed byTex Avery and produced byLeon Schlesinger.[1] The short was released on May 24, 1941.[2]
The cartoon featurescaricatures of over forty contemporary Hollywood celebrities (along with guest appearances).
A group of Hollywood stars is having an expensive dinner atCiro's nightclub inWest Hollywood. The first stars seen areClaudette Colbert,Don Ameche,Adolphe Menjou andNorma Shearer.Greta Garbo, working as acigarette girl, sells a pack toCary Grant, then lights his cigarette by striking a match on her very large foot.
Edward G. Robinson asksAnn Sheridan "How's theOomph girl tonight?" Sheridan responds by uttering the word "oomph" several times.
Warner Bros. staffers Henry Binder andLeon Schlesinger are shown. A seat is reserved forBette Davis, as is an extra-wide sofa forKate Smith. More seats are reserved for the characters of theBlondie films, including a fire hydrant for Daisy the dog.
In thecloakroom,Johnny Weissmuller checks a coat withPaulette Goddard that reveals hisTarzan outfit.Sally Rand leaves her trademark featherfans behind and is presumably naked.
James Cagney preparesHumphrey Bogart andGeorge Raft for a risky task:pitching pennies.
Harpo Marx gives Garbo ahot foot, who reacts with a weary "Ouch".Clark Gable turns his head around 180 degrees to observe a blonde girl, whom he follows offscreen.
Bing Crosby introduces the evening's entertainment, interrupted frequently by a racehorse with an apparently unconscious jockey. Crosby presents conductorLeopold Stokowski, who wears asnood before performing "Ahí, viene la conga".
The conga inspiresDorothy Lamour to inviteJames Stewart to dance with her, who stutters, stammers, and runs away scared. Gable dances by, following the girl he saw earlier.Tyrone Power dances withSonja Henie.[3]Frankenstein's monster dances stiffly and woodenly.The Three Stooges abuse each other in rhythm to the beat.Oliver Hardy's dance partner is revealed to be twin blonde women initially hidden by his obese frame.Cesar Romero dances clumsily withRita Hayworth.Mickey Rooney, sitting withJudy Garland, is presented with an expensive bill, who turns to ask hisAndy Hardy movie father (Lewis Stone) for a heart-to-heart talk. In the next scene, they are seen washing dishes. Gable is still pursuing the girl.
Crosby then introduces Sally Rand (identified as "Sally Strand"), performing abubble dance to "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles", as the camera cuts between the men's reactions and her dancing. Spectators at various tables include:
Now that Strand is standing still on the stage, this allows Harpo Marx an opportunity to shoot her bubble with a slingshot. The bubble explodes on impact, and she reacts with shock, as it reveals she iswearing a barrel, held up by suspenders.
Meanwhile, Gable has finally caught up to the girl he was chasing and insists she kiss him. The girl turns out to beGroucho Marx indrag.
The Film Daily called the short a "caricature novelty", saying: "Latest Leon Schlesinger foray into the realm of caricature will interest and amuse."[6]
Cartoon voice actorKeith Scott wrote: "There have been many twenty-first-century comments about how much this cartoon's cultural references (like conga music) and its raft of celebrities are impenetrable to a contemporary audience. However, on its initial release,Hollywood Steps Out was hyped as a special event and given a publicity buildup inThe Los Angeles Times. Audiences in 1941 would have greeted every caricature with instant recognition and hearty laughter."[7]
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Hollywood Steps Out is available onLooney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2. It is also available onLooney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 2. Both feature theBlue Ribbon reissue title card.