Where Did You Get That Girl?

1941 film by Arthur Lubin

Jay Dratler
Paul Franklin
Stanley Rubin

Story byJay DratlerProduced byJoseph GershensonStarringLeon Errol
Helen Parrish
Charles LangCinematographyJohn W. BoyleEdited byPhilip Cahn
Adrienne FazanMusic byCharles Previn

Production
company

Universal Pictures

Distributed byUniversal Pictures

Release date

3 January 1941 (1941-01-03)

Running time

65 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$83,000^[1]

Where Did You Get That Girl? is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Arthur Lubin and starring Leon Errol, Helen Parrish and Charles Lang. The title comes from the popular song of the same name, which dates to 1913 and was written by Bert Kalmar and Harry Puck. The song figures prominently in the film.^[2] It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. The plot of the film is about the misadventures of a swing band trying to break into the big time. Helen Parrish plays the band's vocalist.

Plot

Poverty stricken musicians borrow instruments from a pawn shop one night and form a band.

Cast

Leon Errol as MacDevin
Helen Parrish as Helen Borden
Charles Lang as Jeff
Eddie Quillan as Joe
Franklin Pangborn as Digby
Stanley Fields as Crandall
Tom Dugan as Murphy
Joe Brown Jr. as Davey
Leonard Sues as Franky
Kenneth Lundy as Shrimp
Joe Cobb as Tubby

Production

The film was based on an original story by Jay Dratler. In August 1940 Universal reported that Stanley Rubin and Hal Brock were writing the script.^[3] By October Helen Parrish and Charles Lang were set as lead actors.^[4] Filming started 30 October.^[5]

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called it "a diverting little musical seemingly just missing the hilarious note evidently aimed at."^[6]

Diabolique magazine called it "a joyous, breezy, silly musical made with predominantly young talent; you can feel Lubin being in complete charge of the material and having a ball."^[7]

References

^ Dick, Bernard K. (2015). City of Dreams: The Making and Remaking of Universal Pictures. University Press of Kentucky. p. 117. ISBN 9780813158891.
^ Where Did You Get That Girl? Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 8, Iss. 85, (Jan 1, 1941): 89.
^ SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD New York Times 9 Aug 1940: 18.
^ NEWS OF THE SCREEN New York Times 26 Oct 1940: 18
^ South America Locale for Dramatic Picture Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 31 Oct 1940: 13.
^ MUSICAL GETS GOOD RATING Los Angeles Times 18 Dec 1940: 20.
^ Vagg, Stephen (14 September 2019). "The Cinema of Arthur Lubin". Diabolique Magazine.