STREET GIRL (1929) Betty Compson, John Harron & Jack Oakie | Romance | B&W | Nostalgic Flick

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Street Girl is a 1929 pre-Code musical film directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring Betty Compson, John Harron and Jack Oakie. It was adapted by Jane Murfin from "The Viennese Charmer", a short story by William Carey Wonderly. While it was the first film made by RKO Radio Pictures, its opening was delayed until after Syncopation, making it RKO's second release. It was very successful at the box office, accounting for almost half of RKO's profits for the entire year

Synopsis

The Four Seasons are a very good jazz quartet, but they perform in a New York City cafe for only $100 a week, forcing them to share a small, rundown apartment. The quartet consists of Joe Spring on clarinet, Pete Summer on accordion and guitar, Mike Fall on piano and trumpet, and an ever-pessimistic Happy Winter on violin.

On his way home one night, Mike drives off a man accosting a young blonde named Frederika Joyzelle. When she tells him she has not eaten in two days, he persuades her to share the group's dinner. She tells them that back in her homeland, she was a violinist. The highlight of her career given a command performance for her homeland's ruler, Prince Nicholaus of Aregon. Mike convinces his bandmates to allow "Freddie" to room with them for two weeks, after they discover she has no place to go. Freddie talks the band into asking for a raise to $200, but when they are turned down, they impulsively quit. Mike is further discouraged when they return to the apartment to find Freddie gone.

However, Freddie soon returns with great news. She has spent all day trying to convince Keppel, the owner of the well-known Little Aregon Cafe, to give the quartet a tryout. She finally succeeded, and at a salary of $300 a week. She gets a job there too, as a cigarette girl and part-time violinist. As time goes on, Mike falls in love with Freddie, but is unsure how she feels about him.

Prince Nicholaus of Aregon is in town, trying to arrange financing for his country. He and his entourage go to the cafe, much to Keppel's delight. When Freddie performs for him, he remembers her and kisses her on the forehead. The newspaper coverage of the kiss causes the cafe to skyrocket in popularity overnight. When a competitor of Keppel's asks the group to perform at his establishment, Keppel wins a bidding war by raising their wages to $3000 a week. This enables them to move into a much fancier apartment. However, the kiss also causes Mike to become jealous to the point of quitting the band.

The popularity of Keppel's cafe allows him to move into the larger "Club Joyzelle". With the help of Prince Nicholaus, Freddie and Mike are reunited in time for the grand opening. Even Happy, who is anything but, smiles as a result.

Cast & Crew

Betty Compson as Frederika "Freddy" Joyzelle
John Harron as Mike Fall
Jack Oakie as Joe Spring
Ned Sparks as Happy Winter
Guy Buccola as Pete Summer
Joseph Cawthorn as Keppel
Ivan Lebedeff as Prince Nicholaus of Aregon
Doris Eaton as Singer at Club Joyzelle
Gus Arnheim and His Ambassadors
Unbilled
André Cheron as Aide to Prince Nicholaus
June Clyde as Blonde at McGregor's
Russ Columbo as Violinist with Gus Arnheim and His Ambassadors
Eddie Kane as Mr. Gilman
Wilfrid North as Man with Prince Nicholaus
Rolfe Sedan as Patron at Little Aregon
Ellinor Vanderveer as Dowager at Little Aregon
Florence Wix as Prince Nicolaus' Escort

Directed by: Wesley Ruggles
Written by: Jane Murfin
Based on: The Viennese Charmer (1928, Young's Magazine) by W. Carey Wonderly
Produced by:
A Wesley Ruggles Production
William LeBaron
Louis Sarecky (associate producer)
Cinematography: Leo Tover
Edited by:
Ann McKnight
William Hamilton
Music by:
Oscar Levant
Sidney Clare
Production Companies:
A Radio Picture
RKO Productions, Inc.
Distributed by: RKO Distributing Corporation
Release Dates:
July 30, 1929 (Premiere – New York City)
August 21, 1929 (United States)
Running Time: 87 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
Budget: $211,000
Box Office: $1,004,000