All right, here we go.
- Quiet! - Quiet!
Roll 'em!
Oh, Pierre, you shouldn't...
She's gotta talk into the mike. I can't pick it up.
Cut!
- What's the matter, Dexter? - It's Lina.
Look, Lina, don't you remember? I told you.
There's a microphone right there in the bush.
- Yeah. - You have to talk into it.
I was talking, wasn't I, Miss Dinsmore?
Yes, my dear, but please remember: Round tones.
Pierre, you shouldn't have come.
- Yes, that's much better. - Hold it a second!
Now, Lina, look.
Here's the mike, right here in the bush.
- Yeah. - Now you talk towards it.
The sound goes through the cable to the box.
A man records it on a big record in wax.
But you have to talk into the mike first...
in the bush!
Now try it again.
- Gee, this is dumb. - She'll get it, Dexter.
Lina, don't worry. We're all a little nervous the first day.
Everything's gonna be okay.
Roscoe, you know the scene where I say, 'lmperious Princess of the night'?
I don't like those lines there. Is it okay if I say what I always do?
'I love you, I love you, I love you'?
Sure. Any way it's comfortable.
But into the bush!
Okay, again! Quiet!
- Quiet! - Roll 'em!
...you shouldn't have...
...flirting with danger. ...surely find you out.
Cut! Lina, we're missing every other word.
You've got to talk into the mike!
Well, I can't make love to a bush!
All right, all right.
We'll have to think of something else.
What are you doing?
- You're being wired for sound. - What?
Watch out for those dentalized D's and T's and those flat A's.
Everybody's picking on me!
Okay, Lina, now look at this flower. See?
The mike is in there.
That's it.
Now the sound will run from it...
through this wire onto the record.
It'll catch whatever you say.
Now, let's hear how it sounds, Lina.
Okay, quiet!
- Quiet! - Roll 'em!
Oh, Pierre, you shouldn't have come.
You're flirting with danger. They will surely...
- What's that noise? - The mike's picking up her heartbeat.
Swell.
Cut!
That's right. That should do it.
Now don't forget, Lina, the mike is on your shoulder...
and whatever you say goes through the wire onto the record.
- Now please, Lina, talk into the mike. - Yeah.
Don't make any quick, jerky movements or you might disconnect it.
Okay, let's go. Quiet.
Quiet!
Roll 'em!
Pierre, you shouldn't have come. You're flirting with danger.
What's this wire doing here? It's dangerous.
You two shouldn't go into the theater together.
Lina's probably waiting right inside the door.
- How I wish... - Don't worry.
I'll be leading the cheering section in the balcony. Good luck.
What's that, the thunderstorm outside?
It's those pearls, Mr. Simpson.
I am the noblest lady of the court, second only to the queen...
yet I am the saddest of the mortals in France.
What is the matter, my lady?
I'm so downhearted, Theresa.
My father has me betrothed to the Baron de Landsfield...
and I can't stand 'im.
But he is such a catch.
All the ladies of the court wish they were in your pretty shoes.
My heart belongs to another.
Pierre de Battaille.
Ever since I met him, I can't get 'im outta my mind.
Sounds good and loud, huh?
Oh, Pierre, you shouldn't have...
You're flirting with danger.
They will surely...
...too valuable.
She never could remember where the microphone was, boss.
'Tis Cupid himself that called me here, and I...
smitten by his arrow...
The night is full of our enemies.
Hey, Lina, whatcha hittin' him with, a blackjack?
I love you.
I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.
Did somebody get paid for writing that dialogue?
Sounds like a comedy inside.
- It's a Lockwood-Lamont talkie. - What?
This is terrible.
What's that?
The sound. It's out of synchronization!
- Tell them to fix it! - Yes, sir.
What's this?
Yvonne, captured by Rouge Noir of the Purple Terror?
Oh! Oh, my sword!
I must fly to her side.
Yvonne, Yvonne, my own!
Pierre will save me! Pierre!
Pierre is miles away, you wench!
No, no, no!
Yes, yes, yes!
No, no, no!
Yes, yes, yes!
No... no... no!
This is a scream.
Give me pictures like 'The Jazz Singer.'
I love you! I love you!
We're all ruined.
- You can't release this picture. - We've got to.
We're booked to open in six weeks all over the country.
But you're such big stars, we might get by.
I never want to see Lockwood and Lamont again.
- Wasn't that awful? - This is the worst picture ever made.
I liked it.
Take a last look at it.
It'll be up for auction in the morning.
You're out of your mind. Besides, it's Saturday.
No bank's gonna foreclose until Monday.
- It wasn't so bad. - That's what I've been telling him.
There's no use kidding myself.
Once they release 'The Duelling Cavalier'...
Lockwood and Lamont are through.
The picture's a museum piece. I'm a museum piece.
Things went wrong with the sound. If you straighten out the technical end...
It wasn't that. This is sweet of both of you, but l...
Something happened to me tonight. L...
Everything you ever said about me is true.
I'm no actor. I never was.
Just a lot of dumb show. I know that now.
Well, at least you're taking it lying down.
No kidding. Did you ever see anything as idiotic as me on that screen tonight?
Yeah. How about Lina?
All right. I ran her a close second.
Maybe it was a photo finish. Anyway, I'm through.
- You're not through! - Of course not.
With your looks and figure, you could drive an ice wagon or shine shoes.
- Block hats. - Sell pencils.
- Dig ditches. - Or go back into vaudeville.
Fit as a fiddle and ready for love I could jump over the moon up above
Fit as a fiddle and ready for love
Too bad I didn't do that in 'Duelling Cavalier.' They might have liked it.
- Why don't you? - What?
- Make a musical. - Musical?
Sure. Make a musical.
The new Don Lockwood. He yodels. He jumps about to music.
The only trouble is that after they release 'Duelling Cavalier'...
nobody would come to see me jump off the Woolworth Building into a damp rag.
Why don't you turn 'The Duelling Cavalier' into a musical?
- 'Duelling Cavalier'? - Sure.
They've got six weeks before it's released.
Add songs and dances, trim the bad scenes, add new ones.
And you got it.
Hey, I think it'll work.
Of course!
It may be crazy, but we're gonna do it.
'The Duelling Cavalier' is now a musical.
- Hot dog! - Hallelujah!
Fellas, I feel this is my lucky day. March 23rd.
- No, your lucky day's the 24th. - What do you mean?
It's 1:30. It's morning.
Yes, and what a lovely mornin'.
- Good mornin' - Good mornin'
We've talked the whole night through
- Good mornin' - Good mornin' to you
Good mornin', good mornin'
It's great to stay up late
Good mornin' Good mornin' to you
When the band began to play the stars were shining bright
Now the milkman's on his way It's too late to say good night
So good mornin', good mornin'
Sunbeams will soon smile through
Good mornin' Good mornin' to you
And you and you and you
Good mornin', good mornin'
We've gabbed the whole night through
Good mornin' Good mornin' to you
Nothin' could be grander than to be in Louisiana
In the morning In the morning
It's great to stay up late
Good mornin' Good mornin' to you
Might be just as zippy if we was in Mississippi
When we left the movie show
The future wasn't bright
But came the dawn, the show goes on and I don't wanna say good night
So say good mornin'
Good mornin'
Rainbows are shining through Good mornin'
- Good mornin' - Bonjour
Monsieur
- Buenos dias - Muchas frias
Buon giorno
Guten Morgen
Good mornin' to you
- |Ole! - |Toro!
|Toro! |Ah-ha!
Charleston!
Hey, we can't make this a musical.
What do you mean?
She can't act, she can't sing and she can't dance.
- A triple threat. - Yeah.
What's so funny?
I'm sorry. I was just thinking.
I liked her best when the sound went off and she said...
'Yes, yes, yes! '
No, no, no!
Wait a minute. I am just about to be brilliant.
Come here, Kathy.
Now sing. I said, 'Sing.'
- Good mornin' - Good mornin'
- Keep your eyes on my face. - We talked the whole night through
Good mornin' Good mornin' to you
Watch my mouth.
Good mornin', good mornin'
It's great to stay up late Good mornin', good mornin' to you
Well? Convincing?
Enchanting. What?
Don't you get it? Use Kathy's voice.
Lina moves her mouth, and Kathy's voice comes over singing and talking for her.
- That's wonderful. - I couldn't let you do it.
- Why not? - Because you wouldn't be seen.
- You'd be throwing away your own career. - It has nothing to do with my career.
It's only for this one picture.
The important thing now is to save 'The Duelling Cavalier'...
save Lockwood and Lamont.
All right, if it's only for this one picture, but...
- Do you think it'll get by? - Of course it will.
Sure, and it's simple to work the numbers.
Just dance around Lina and teach her how to take a bow.
All right, we'll spring it on R.F. In the morning.
Don, you're a genius.
I'm glad you thought of it.
Good night, Kathy. See you tomorrow.
Good night, Don.
Take care of that throat. You're a big singing star now, remember?
This California dew is just a little heavier than usual tonight.
Really?
From where I stand, the sun is shining all over the place.
I'm singin' in the rain
Just singin' in the rain
What a glorious feelin'
I'm happy again
I'm laughin' at clouds
So dark up above
The sun's in my heart
And I'm ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place
Come on with the rain
I've a smile on my face
I walk down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just singin'
Singin' in the rain
Dancin' in the rain
I'm happy again
I'm singin' and dancin' in the rain
I'm dancin'
And singin'
In the rain
That's wonderful! Now look.
We'll keep it secret until we're ready to release, in case it doesn't come off.
But I'm worried about Lina. She doesn't like Miss Selden.
- There might be fireworks. - Lina won't even know she's on the lot.
Okay. Boys, this is great. 'The Duelling Cavalier' can be saved.
Now, let's see. 'The Duelling Cavalier' with music.
The title's not right.
We need a musical title. Cosmo?
'The Duelling Mammy.'
I've got it.
- 'The Dancing Cavalier.' - That's it. 'The Dancing Cavalier.'
Cosmo, remind me to make you a scriptwriter.
- Thanks, R.F. Have a cigar. - Thanks.
Now what about the story?
We need modern musical numbers.
How's this? We throw a modern section into the picture.
The hero's a young hoofer in a Broadway show.
He sings and dances.
One night backstage, he's reading 'A Tale of Two Cities'...
and a sandbag falls and hits him on the head...
and he dreams he's back during the French Revolution.
This way we get in the modern dancing numbers... Charleston.
But in the dream part, we can still use the costume stuff.
Sensational! Cosmo, remind me to give you a raise.
Gimme a raise.
He holds her in his arms
Would you
He tells her of her charms
Would you
They met as you and I
And they were only friends
But before
The story ends
He'll kiss her with a sigh
Would you
And if the girl were I
Would you
And would you dare to say
Let's do the same as they
I would
Would you
And would you dare to say
Let's do the same as they
I would
Would you
Perfect. That Selden girl is great.
Once the picture is released, I'll give her a big buildup.
- Swell! - How much is there left to do?
- One scene and a number. - What number?
It's new. It's for the modern part of the picture.
It's called 'Broadway Melody.'
It's the story of a young hoofer who comes to New York.
First, we set the stage with a song.
It goes like this.
Don't bring a frown to Old Broadway
Ah, you gotta clown on Broadway
Your troubles there
They're out of style
For Broadway always wears a smile
A million lights
They flicker there
A million hearts beat quicker there
No skies of gray on that Great White Way
That's the Broadway
Melo-dy
Gotta dance
Shh!
Gotta dance
Broadway rhythm It's got me
Everybody dance
Broadway rhythm It's got me
Everybody dance
Out on that gay White Way In each merry cafe
Orchestras play Takin' your breath away
Broadway rhythm, it's got me
Everybody sing and dance
That Broadway rhythm
When I hear that happy beat
Feel like dancin' down the street
That Broadway rhythm
Writhing, beating
Rhythm
Gotta dance
When I hear that happy beat
Feel like dancin' down the street
When I hear that happy beat
Feel like dancin' down the street
When I hear that happy beat
Feel like dancing down the street
Gotta dance
That's the Broadway
Melo-dy
That's the idea of the number. What do you think of it?
I can't quite visualize it. I'll have to see it on film first.
- On film it'll be better yet. - Get goin', fellas.
You've got to have that Selden girl rerecord all of Lina's dialogue.
- It's all set up. - And remember:
Don't let Lina know about it.
All set in there?
Nothing can keep us apart.
Our love will last 'til the stars turn cold.
All right, Kathy. Go ahead.
Nothing can keep us apart.
Our love will last 'til the stars turn cold.
That's great. Perfect. Cut.
'Til the stars turn cold.
Oh, Kathy, I love you.
I can't wait 'til this picture's finished.
No more secrecy. I'm gonna let Lina and everyone know.
Your fans will be bitterly disappointed.
From now on, there's only one fan I'm worrying about.
There! What did I tell you, Lina?
Thanks, Zelda. You're a real pal.
I want that girl off the lot at once.
She ain't gonna be my voice. Zelda told me everything.
- Thanks, Zelda. You're a real pal. - Any time, Don.
- Look, Miss Lamont. Don and l... - Don? Don't you dare call him Don!
I was calling him Don before you were born!
I mean... I mean... You were kissing him!
I was kissing her! I happen to be in love with her.
That's ridiculous. Everybody knows you're in love with me.
Look, Lina. Try and understand this.
I'm going to marry her.
Silly boy. She ain't the marrying kind.
She's just a flirt trying to get ahead by using you.
I'll put a stop to that. I'm gonna go see R.F. Right now!
You're a little late. The picture's already finished.
If she weren't in the picture, you would be finished too.
As far as I can see, she's the only one who's finished.
- Who will ever hear of her? - Everybody.
Why do you think Zelda's in such a sweat?
Because Kathy nearly stole the picture from her.
She's doing you a favor, helping you in 'The Dancing Cavalier.'
And she's getting full screen credit for it too.
You mean it's gonna say up on the screen that I don't talk and sing for myself?
Of course. What do you think?
- They can't do that. - It's already done.
And there's a whole publicity campaign being planned.
Publicity?
They can't make a fool outta Lina Lamont!
They can't make a laughingstock outta Lina Lamont!
What do they think I am, dumb or something?
I make more money than... than Calvin Coolidge...
put together!
'Monumental Pictures wildly enthusiastic...
over Lina's singing pipes and dancing stems.'
I never said that.
'Premiere tomorrow night to reveal Lina Lamont big musical talent.'
Boss, you can't pull a switch like this on the publicity department.
We were all prepared on the campaign for Kathy Selden.
Now you do this. At least keep us informed.
I don't know anything about this. I had nothing to do with it.
- What are we gonna do? - Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
You wouldn't want to call the papers and say that Lina Lamont is a big fat liar.
Lina, did you send this stuff out?
I gave an exclusive story to every paper in town.
You'll never get away with it. Rod, call the papers back.
- I wouldn't do that if I were you. - Don't tell me what to do!
What do you think I am, dumb or something?
I had my lawyer go over my contract.
And I control my publicity, not you.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
The studio's responsible for every word printed about me.
If I don't like it, I can sue.
What?
I can sue.
If you tell the papers about Kathy Selden...
it would be 'detrimental and deleterious' to my career.
I could sue you for the whole studio.
- That's a lot of nonsense. - Says so right here.
Contract dated June 8, 1925...
paragraph 34, subdivision letter 'A':
'The party of the first part'... That's me.
You win, Lina.
Take Kathy Selden's credit off the screen.
Go ahead. Let's just get this premiere over with.
Satisfied?
Just one little thing more.
You want me to change the name of the studio...
to Lamont Pictures Incorporated?
Oh, R.F., you're cute.
I was just thinking...
you've given this little girl a part in Zelda's picture...
and you're gonna give her an even bigger one in the next?
- So what? - So, if she's done such a grand job...
doubling for my voice, don't you think she oughta go on doing just that...
and nothing else?
You're crazy.
I'm still more important to the studio than she is.
I wouldn't do that to her in a million years.
You'd be taking her career away from her. People don't do things like that.
People?
I ain't people.
I'm a...
'A shimmering, glowing star...
in the cinema firmament.'
It says so. Right there.
Oh, Pierre. Pierre, my darling.
At last I've found you.
Oh, Pierre. Pierre, you're hurt.
Oh, speak to me.
I'll kiss her with a sigh
Would you, would you
And if the girl were I
Would you, would you
Oh, Pierre, hold me in your arms always.
Lockwood's a sensation.
Yes, but Lamont. What a voice! Isn't she marvelous!
- It's going over wonderfully, isn't it? - Yeah.
Our love will last 'til the stars turn cold.
And would you dare to say
Let's do the same as they
I would
Would you
- R.F., it's a real smash. - Congratulations, kids.
- We owe you a lot. - Thanks, Mr. Simpson.
- Kathy, we made it! - Don, it's a miracle!
It's just great, Don.
Lina, you were fabulous. You sang as well as Kathy.
Yeah, and I'm gonna for a long time.
- What do you mean by that? - She's gonna go right on singing for me.
Listen, Lina.
I thought something was cooking beneath those bleached curls of yours.
Now get this! Kathy has a career of her own.
She only did this for the one picture.
That's what you think.
Come on!
Lina's getting carried away, isn't she, boss?
- Yes, she is. - Listen, you boa constrictor.
Don't get any fancy ideas about the future. Tell her.
Never mind! Listen to that applause, and wait 'til the money starts rolling in.
You won't give all that up because some nobody don't wanna be my voice.
She's got something there. It's a gold mine.
Part of that choice is mine, and I just won't do it.
You got a five-year contract. You'll do what R.F. Says.
Why don't you tell her off?
I'm confused. This thing is so big...
- They're tearing the house apart. - Take a curtain call.
I once gave you a cigar. Can I have it back?
- Wait a minute... - Listen to 'em! I'm an avalanche!
Selden, you're stuck!
If this happens, you'll get yourself a new boy. I won't stand for it!
Who needs you? They'd come to see me if I played opposite a monkey!
Just a minute. Don's a smash too. I'm still running the studio!
I'm not so sure!
You're the big Mr. Producer, always running things, running me.
From now on, as far as I'm concerned, I'm running things.
Lina Lamont Pictures Incorporated, huh?
- Yeah. - You've gone too far.
- Don, they're yelling for a speech. - A speech.
Yeah, everybody's always making speeches for me.
Tonight I'm gonna do my own talking.
I'm gonna make the speech!
- You can't do that! - Wait a minute, Rod.
This is Lina's big night, and she's entitled to do the talking.
- Right? - Right.
Ladies and gentlemen...
I can't tell you how thrilled we are at your reception...
for 'The Dancing Cavalier,' our first musical picture together.
If we bring a little joy into your humdrum lives...
it makes us feel as though our hard work ain't been in vain for nothin'.
Bless you all!
She didn't sound that way in the picture.
Cut the talk, Lina. Sing!
I got an idea.
What am I gonna do?
We've got it. Rod, set up a microphone back of that curtain.
Kathy, come here. Kathy will stand back there and sing for you.
She'll be back of the curtain singing, and I'll be out in front doing...
like in the picture?
- That's right. - What?
You gotta do it. This thing is too big.
Of course she's got to do it. She's got a contract.
- Get over to that microphone. - You heard him. Do it!
I'll do it, Don...
but I never want to see you again, on or off the screen.
Come on, Lina.
What are you going to sing, Miss Lamont?
'Singing In The Rain.'
In what key?
'A' flat.
In 'A' flat.
I'm singin' in the rain
Just singin' in the rain
What a glorious feelin'
I'm happy again
I'm laughin' at clouds
So dark up above
The sun's in my heart and I'm ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place
Come on with the rain
I've a smile on my face
I'll walk down the lane
With a happy refrain
I'm singin' Just singin' in the rain
I'm singin' in the rain Just singin' in the rain
What a glorious feelin'
I'm happy again
I'm laughin' at clouds
So dark up above
The sun's in my heart and I'm ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase...
Ladies and gentlemen, stop that girl running up the aisle!
That's the girl whose voice you heard and loved tonight!
She's the real star of the picture. Kathy Selden!
You are
My lucky star
I saw you
From afar
Two lovely eyes
At me they were gleaming
Beaming
I was starstruck
You're all
My lucky charms
I'm lucky
In your arms
You've opened heaven's portal
Here on Earth for this poor mortal
You are
My lucky
Star