Professor Popinjay's Compendium of Perspicacity

A Non-Review by Professor Popinjay

I really would like to sift out all the salvageable parts of this film but I’m just too pissed. Good ol’ Stepin Fetchit is in this and as usual he’s played for laughs not because he can dance or be funny but just because he’s “the dumb black guy.” It boils my blood. Some criticize him for willfully acting the part but I criticize the society that put him in the position where that was all he was allowed to do. Even the characters treat him like garbage on screen. The man got a lot of screen time though and even shared a scene with Jimmy Durante while Jimmy Durante was a penguin. Durante did a voice over for the penguin while Fetchit acted as though he believed the penguin was actually Durante. It was weird.

Adding to this film’s sins was the inclusion of Tess Gardella acting in black face as Aunt Jemima. This is not to be confused with the other “Aunt Jemima” associated with the syrup and flapjacks. That Aunt Jemima was Nancy Green. Nancy was actually black, well paid for her services, well regarded by most in her profession, and loved her job. At least so far as my facts are straight on the matter. Again, probably another example of perpetuated stereotypes but a darling woman nevertheless. Tess Gardella on the other hand was another story altogether. She was not at all black and perpetuating stereotypes was her primary function. I’ll give her this though, she could sing like the dickens and had a winning smile. Just be Italian Ms. Gardella! If they wanted a black performer lady, there were plenty available at that time and they were fabulous! Hazel Scott, Mary Lou Williams, Consuela Harris, Marie Bryant, the list goes on and on. All stupendously talented and wonderful to see.

For the most part this film stands as a vehicle for Shirley Temple to do her Shirley Temple thing and that poor girl was probably exploited more than anyone else on the set so I shan’t point any fingers of blame at her. But there’s not much else to this movie.

It’s about people being sad after the depression and the president puts a man in charge of making people happy again by funneling money into entertainment. I found myself kind of sympathizing with the antagonists however, who believed that money would be better spent creating jobs. Thankfully, Roosevelt did just that in real life with the Civil Works Program and surprisingly Hollywood continued to crank out entertainment despite a lack of government funding. Incidentally the CWA led to the construction of the Timberline Lodge on the Southern flank of Mt. Hood which is where parts of The Shining was filmed. So you see, everything works out.

I liked the two fellas that did a slap stick acrobatics act while having a regular conversation. It’s not enough to redeem the film but it was something. Personally, I’d sweep this film under the rug but maybe watch it as an example of what NOT to do and keep it in the archives as a testament to a past we don’t want to forget so as not to repeat.

Stand Up and Cheer! Is available to watch for free on YouTube. Skip to time 33:14 for the rather impressive acrobatic routine. The rest is just shameful.