Dixiana
Directed by Luther Reed
Written by Luther Reed and Anne Caldwell
1930/US
RKO Radio Pictures
IMDb page
First viewing/YouTube
Peewee: Madame, do you know the cigar game?
Unless you are a fan of mediocre melodramatic operettas, the only reason to see this is the comic relief provided by Wheeler and Woolsey.
The story takes place in the antebellum South, mostly in New Orleans. Â Dixiana (Bebe Daniels) is the star of a “circus” (looks more like some kind of musical review). Â She loves Carl Van Horn (Everett Marshall), a Southern gentleman. Â He brings her home to meet his parents and her mother will not have a circus performer in the family. Â In the meantime, evil casino owner Royal Montague (Ralf Harolde) schemes to make her his own.
Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey are performers in the show and are always around when something is going on with Dixiana. Â Dorothy Lee shows up late in the proceedings to do her obligatory song and dance with Wheeler. Â Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson does a tap dance in the show. Â It was his first film appearance.
If this had not had Wheeler and Woolsey, I would not have watched it. Â They were enough to provide some entertainment. Â Otherwise this is just mediocre. Â The songs, other than the Wheeler and Lee number aren’t catchy and are sung in overblown operatic voices.
