MovieChat Forums > Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935) Discussion > the snorer stopped the film cold, but no...

the snorer stopped the film cold, but not in a good way


The movie was going along swimingly, nice singing and dancing,(even Taylor was good), the story was flowing nicely too. But then, out of the blue and with no reason imaginable, they put in this guy with his snoring routine and stopped the film cold, and not in a good way, it took you right out of the movie.

For starters, the bit was'nt funny, boardering on gross, another thing is, it took up the time of Jack Benny (though not in a pleasant role, he's usually, yes, a tight wad and fussy, and such, but always sweet, he's kind of nasty here). And the bit went on too long. And to make matters worse, they reprised the "bit" later on.

MGM seemed to have a habit of this kind of inane interruption in their films. In "Born to Dance", they had Reginald Owens playing a policeman, pretending that he was leading an orchestra, again not funny and again for no rhyme or reason, and out of place as well.

All the girl were very cute. It's easy to see why they were stars.

Last word: the movie was excellent.

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I agree with you oldsenior. The movie is truly excellent but the snoring routine did not help the film at all. The same actor reprises the role in Broadway Melody of 1938, but in this film he goes through the "sneezing" repertoire!!

"Darling ELLIE and FRANCES were the apples of my eye - Now they are in heaven I want to CRY"

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TOTALLY agree. I was all, What the hell? And then they bring the guy in again and again!

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I just tuned in to the film midway, and GROSS here comes the snorer. He was so nasty (those teeth!) and now coming here and seeing these notes, I changed the channel. I'm not sure if that was his first appearance in the movie but I don't want to chance having to look at that again. WTF?!?!

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Something tells me the audiences at the time howled with laughter watching the snore guy. I wouldn't be surprised if he was one of Jack Benny's finds. I didn't mind the guy was in the movie; I just think his routine went on a little too long.


Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

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I can't believe all of you. The snorer was hilarious. It was honestly one of the most outrageously funny things I've ever seen in a movie musical.

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