Going Highbrow (1935)

I love this movie so much

Memorable, crazy movie

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Every once in awhile I discover an actor that is a revelation. I've seen him or her in other roles but wasn't impressed enough to notice. Watching Ross Alexander I saw a likable, energetic, impressive singer. He puts Dick Powell to shame. After reading his bio I see why he never became a star. What a pity. When he and Edward Everett Horton do their patter songs it's impossible not to smile, stop the DVD and replay them. It was also nice to see Sazu Pitts in a glamor role. At 41 she could play frumps and spinsters 'til the cows come home. This one let her look her best. (If you've never seen her in a Von Stroheim film you don't know how good she could look when properly photographed.) The story is nothing. But the interaction of the characters is extremely well done. If you love 1930s character actors as I do, be sure to catch this film the next time it's on TCM.

What can you say about a 1930s Cinderella plot done up as a screwy comedy wherein all the men's voices are twice as high as the women's? Theatrical married couple, out of work and on the rocks, are brought together again by fate after the wife, working as a waitress, is asked to impersonate the daughter of a high society twosome, while the husband is asked by the father of a potential new suitor to act as a suave former lover. Edward Everett Horton, playing meddlesome matchmaker Augie Winterspoon (!), dashes about like a mad pixie in spats; he's good for a few big laughs, but nothing Horton does here (or ever) is enough to bolster a wafer-thin plot full of romantic entanglements and complications. The dialogue comes fast and furious, but most of the wisecracks and put-downs are dated now, and embarrassing to witness. *1/2 from ****

The other reviews for Going Highbrow tend to be a little harsh, I think, so even though I've only given it a '5', I'm going to concentrate on the film's better qualities. Guy Kibbee and ZaSu Pitts are marvelous as a nouveau riche Kansas couple trying to impress Manhattan's bluebloods. Accordingly, they've purchased a pricey painting in Europe, attracting the attention of hustler Augie (the always wonderful Edward Everett Horton), who thinks he can squeeze some of their money out of them by selling them some artwork owned by the mother of his friend Harley (Ross Alexander, who should have been a star). Romantic interest is provided by waitress Sandy (gorgeous June Martel), and Judy Canova supplies yucks as her co-worker Annie. Sy Bartlett and Edward Kaufman's screenplay is filled with snappy dialogue, and as ridiculous as it all is, the result is tremendously entertaining.

"All in all, "Going Highbrow" (1935) is a pretty good post production code comedy although its rather fragmented structure works against efforts to make it a unified story.Cora (Zasu Pitts) and Matt (Guy Kilbee) Upshaw are hicks from Wellington, Kansas who accidentally made big money at the start of the stock market crash. Matt's broker misunderstood Matt's instructions and invested all his money in put (sell) options for a single stock, the total opposite of Matt's intentions. After the price declined no one exercised their options to buy and Matt got to keep all the proceeds. Matt is still simple and unpretentious but Cora is determined to crash New York's "Society 400" list. The "nouveau riche" Upshaws enlist the old money (but none left) Marsh family to introduce Cora to the proper people. Part of the scheme involves hiring struggling actress Sandy Long (June Martel) to play Cora's daughter. This sets up an extremely lame romance between Martel and Ross Alexander, who plays the Marsh son. Edward Everett Horton plays Augie Winterspoon, the Marsh's financial adviser. He tries valiantly to link the story elements together. The soon to be famous singer, yodeler, cowgirl Judy Canova does a nice job in a small supporting part as Sandy's coworker."Going Highbrow" is a must see for fans of Zasu Pitts as she dominates the first half of the film with a somewhat different variation on her airhead character. Instead of her usual scatterbrain adventures she plays a self-absorbed social climber, but still manages to infuse the role with her usual comic touches. Pitts was one of the few comedians whose gift for dialogue and expression was effectively complemented by a talent for physical comedy. Because her technique has never gone out of style, her films (including this one) do not seem nearly as dated as other productions from the same time period. Credit Una Merkel, Gloria Grahame, Goldie Hawn, and Brittany Murphy with keeping the Pitts' style alive down though the years.Horton is almost young looking in this film but has already developed most of the comedic touches he would apply to countless character roles during his long career. He really has too much screen time and during the second half you keep wishing for more of Pitts who effectively disappears from the second half of the film. Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.