Sailing Along (1938)

Sailing Along
Directed by Sonnie Hale
Written by Sonnie Hale, Selwyn Jepson and Lesser Samuels
1938/UK
Gaumont British Picture Corporation
First viewing/Streaming on Amazon Watch Instant Prime

[box] Of Jessie Matthews in this film: Roger Phillip Mellor, in the Encyclopedia of British Cinema, notes ” …the image of her in Sailing Along (d. Hale, 1938), in a white evening gown, with a gentleman’s black top hat and walking cane, performing ‘Souvenir of Love’ in Lime Grove’s art deco luxury sets, indelibly incarnates 1930s style.”[/box]

This pleasant musical introduced me to British musical star Jessie Matthews.

Kay (Matthews) works on a barge with her adoptive father and boatman Steve, whom she secretly adores and openly battles.  One day, as she is singing and dancing while floating down the river, she catches the eye of wealthy Mr. Gulliver (Roland Young).  Gulliver decides she is a genius like his cracked painter protegé Sylvester (Alistair Sim).  He grooms Kay for stardom and introduces her to American song and dance man Dicky Randall.  Dicky falls for Kay in a big way while Dicky’s wife tries to seduce Steve.  Singing, dancing, and complications ensue.

Jessie Matthews was quite a talented dancer and a fair singer and actress in that 30’s musical kind of way.  The musical numbers are entertaining.  Roland Young and Alistair Sim are the gravy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eip5NHvwOTM

Clip – singing and dancing to “Souvenir of Love”