They Learned About Women

They Learned About Women is a 1930 American Pre-Code sports drama musical film directed by Jack Conway and Sam Wood, and starring Van and Schenck in their final film appearance together.

They Learned About Women
Directed byJack Conway
Sam Wood
Written byA.P. Younger
Sarah Y. Mason
StarringVan and Schenck
Bessie Love
J. C. Nugent
Music byMilton Ager (composer)
Jack Yellen (lyricist)
CinematographyLeonard Smith
Edited byJames C. McKay
Tom Held
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • January 31, 1930 (1930-01-31) (U.S.)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Although predominantly a black and white film, the "Harlem Madness" number was filmed in Technicolor under the direction of Sammy Lee.[1] The film is a "talkie", but MGM also issued it in a silent version, with Alfred Block writing the titles. The film was remade in 1949 as Take Me Out to the Ball Game.

Plot

Major league baseball player Jack Glennon (Schenck) watches out for alcoholic teammate Jerry Burke (Van). Both men are interested in Mary (Love), but Jack marries the gold-digging Daisy (Doran), who lures him away from baseball to the vaudeville stage.

Later, Jerry and Mary become romantically involved, and Jack rejoins the baseball team after divorcing Daisy. Jerry notices that Jack is not playing well and is unhappy, and realizes that he must still be in love with Mary. He steps away from Mary, allowing her to be with Jack. Jack plays baseball well once again, and the team wins the World Series.[2][3][4]

Cast

Reception

The film received lukewarm reviews.[3][4]

Soundtrack
  • "Ain't You, Baby?"
Music by Milton Ager
Lyrics by Jack Yellen
Performed by Gus Van
  • "Does My Baby Love?"
Music by Milton Ager
Lyrics by Jack Yellen
Performed by Gus Van and Joe Schenck
  • "Harlem Madness"
Music by Milton Ager
Lyrics by Jack Yellen
Performed by Gus Van and Joe Schenck
Reprised by Nina Mae McKinney and chorus (in Technicolor)
  • "He's That Kind of a Pal"
Music by Milton Ager
Lyrics by Jack Yellen
Performed by Gus Van and Joe Schenck (twice)
  • "A Man of My Own"
Music by Milton Ager
Lyrics by Jack Yellen
Performed by Bessie Love
  • "Ten Sweet Mamas"
Music by Milton Ager
Lyrics by Jack Yellen
Performed by Gus Van, Joe Schenck, and ball players
  • "There Will Never Be Another Mary"
Music by Milton Ager
Lyrics by Jack Yellen
Performed by Joe Schenck
  • "Dougherty Is the Name"
Music by Milton Ager
Lyrics by Jack Yellen and Gus Van
Performed by Gus Van and Joe Schenck
  • "I'm an Old-Fashioned Guy"
Music by Milton Ager
Lyrics by Jack Yellen and Gus Van
Performed by Gus Van and Joe Schenck
  • "When You Wore a Tulip and I Wore a Big Red Rose"
Music by Percy Wenrich (1924)
Lyrics by Jack Mahoney
Sung by the players in the hotel lobby
  • "When You Were Sweet Sixteen"
Written by James Thornton (1898)
Sung partially by Tom Dugan and Benny Rubin

References
  1. "All-Colored Revue Hit Featured in Centre Film". Ottawa Citizen. July 18, 1930. p. 21.
  2. Munden, Kenneth W., ed. (1971). The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States: Feature Films 1921–1930. New York: R. R. Bowker Company. p. 798. OCLC 664500075.
  3. Bradley, Edwin M. (August 11, 2004). "There's a Tear for Every Smile in Hollywood". The First Hollywood Musicals: A Critical Filmography of 171 Features, 1927 through 1932. McFarland. pp. 216–8. ISBN 978-0-7864-2029-2.
  4. Motion Picture Reviews. Los Angeles, CA: Women's University Club. 1930. p. 6.
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