THE GIRL SAID NO aka With Words and Music (1937) Robert Armstong, Irene Hervey | Musical | COLORIZED

The Girl Said No (aka With Words and Music) is a 1937 American musical comedy film produced by Andrew L. Stone and Edward L. Alperson for Grand National Pictures and directed by Andrew L. Stone. The screenplay was written by Betty Laidlaw, Robert Lively and Andrew L. Stone. The film stars Robert Armstrong, Irene Hervey and Paula Stone. It uses musical numbers from Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and the story is about a shady bookie who is in love with a greedy dance hall girl and schemes to get her back after she rejects him. Along the way, he revives a failing Gilbert and Sullivan troupe.

SYNOPSIS
Jimmy, a bookie cum horse buying agent, meets a beautiful dance hall girl. After leading him on, and out of his money, she rejects him. Jimmy hatches a scheme to wreak revenge on her. He pretends to be a talent agent and that she is his new discovery. he promises to make her a stage star. He engages an out of work Gilbert & Sullivan troupe on a performance of Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado in order to convince the girl that he is for real. All goes well and his scheme works. The only problem is that the girl now loves him, as does the entire, previously down on their luck troupe of players.

Jimmie (Robert Armstrong), a shady bookie, meets Pearl (Irene Hervey), a taxi dance hall girl. He takes her out on several dates, pretending to be a high profile producer. She is happy to spend his money extravagantly but refuses to be his girlfriend. To get revenge, Jimmie promises to make her a Broadway star and becomes her manager. He takes her to expensive dinners and meetings with people in the top entertainment circles.

Jimmie tricks Pearl into signing a contract under which most of her earnings go to him. He persuades a defunct Gilbert and Sullivan troupe to re-form, obtains an empty theatre for a night, and fills it by blackmail. They play The Mikado, which is deservedly a hit.

CAST & CREW
Robert Armstrong as Jimmie Allen
Irene Hervey as Pearl Proctor / Peep-Bo
Paula Stone as Mabel
Edward Brophy as Pick
William Danforth as Howard Hathaway / The Mikado
Vera Ross as Beatrice Hathaway / Katisha
Richard Tucker as Charles Dillon
Harry Tyler as Chuck Fairfax
Gwili Andre as Gretchen Holman
Max Davidson as Max
Josef Swickard as Jonesy
Bert Roach as Sugar Plum
Horace Murphy as Joe
Vivian Hart as Beatrice / Pitti-Sing
Frank Moulan as Mark / Ko-Ko
Allen Rogers as John / The Minstrel
Carita Crawford as Yum Yum
Mildred Rogers as Peggy
Arthur Kay as Adolph / Conductor
Carl Stockdale as Lockwood - a Critic
Claire Rochelle as Miss Pringle aka Angel
Rolfe Sedan as Headwaiter at the Ritz
Isabel La Mal as Lady Sylvia
Lester Dorr as Dick Barnes - Theatre Manager

Directed by Andrew L. Stone
Written by Betty Laidlaw, Robert Lively, Andrew L. Stone
Produced by Edward L. Alperson, Andrew L. Stone
Cinematography Ira H. Morgan
Edited by Thomas Neff
Music by Arthur Kay, Gilbert and Sullivan
Production company Andrew L. Stone Productions
Distributed by Grand National Pictures
Release date October 15, 1937
Running time 76 minutes
Country United States
Language English