''Melody in May'' is a 1936 American

short film A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...

starring singer

Ruth Etting Ruth Etting (November 23, 1896 – September 24, 1978) was an American singer and actress of the 1920s and 1930s, who had over 60 hit recordings and worked in stage, radio, and film. Known as "America's sweetheart of song", her signature tunes ...

directed by Ben Holmes.

Plot

The movie opens with Ruth Etting (as herself) recording "

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the s ...

", after which she declares that she is taking a month off, and going to where no-one can find her. This turns out to be Middleton, which is so small it has no hotel. Ruth rents a room over the local ice-cream parlor, where high-school student Tommy Bradshaw works for his mother, who owns the store and rooming house. Over her ice cream, Ruth overhears Tommy's fellow students remarking on his social awkwardness. Tonight is the school dance, which Tommy won't attend, because he can't dance, and because Mary, the only girl he is interested in, is going with Chuck, the school heartthrob. However, Chuck is expected to be out of town that night, so as Mary leaves, she asks Tommy to take her, and he ecstatically agrees. That evening, as Tommy is stepping out to get Mary, she pulls up in a car being driven by Chuck, who is staying after all, and Mary gives Tommy her regrets. Tommy offers his tickets to Chuck, who tears them up. Witnessing this exchange, Ruth asks Tommy to take her to the dance instead. At the dance, everyone remarks on Tommy's choice of a much older date. To rescue the situation, Ruth sings " It Had to Be You", accompanied by the excellent live band (which happens to be playing there for reasons not explained). At that point, everyone realizes who Ruth is, and Tommy is suddenly besieged by boys wanting to dance with Ruth, and by girls wanting him to come to upcoming events. After the dance, Mary asks Tommy to take her home. Chuck objects, and when he sets up to clean Tommy's clock, Tommy gets in a sucker punch that lays his opponent out cold. Ruth lends Tommy her car to take Mary home. Mary comments on how events have conspired to make Tommy show his "new ego".

Cast

as Herself *

Frank Coghlan Jr. Frank Coghlan Jr. (March 15, 1916 – September 7, 2009) also known as Junior Coghlan, was an American actor who later became a career officer in the United States Navy and a naval aviator. He appeared in approximately 129 films and televis ...

as Tommy Bradshaw * Margaret Armstrong as Ma Bradshaw *

Joan Sheldon Joan Mary Sheldon (born 29 April 1943) is an Australian politician. She was a Liberal Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1990 to 2004, representing the electorates of Landsborough (1990–1992) and then Caloundra (1 ...

as Mary Callahan *

Kenneth Howell Kenneth Howell (February 21, 1913 - September 28, 1966) was an American actor. He is best remembered for roles in films such as ''Pardon My Pups'' (1934), '' The Wrong Way Out'' (1938), '' Pride of the Bowery'' (1940) and ''Ball of Fire'' (194 ...

as Chuck *

Robert Meredith The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory ...

as Boy

Soundtrack

*Ruth Etting - "

" (By

W. C. Handy William Christopher Handy (November 16, 1873 – March 28, 1958) was an American composer and musician who referred to himself as the Father of the Blues. Handy was one of the most influential songwriters in the United States. One of many musici ...

) *Ruth Etting - " It Had to Be You" (By

Isham Jones Isham Edgar Jones (January 31, 1894 – October 19, 1956) was an American bandleader, saxophonist, bassist and songwriter. Career Jones was born in Coalton, Ohio, United States, to a musical and mining family. His father, Richard Isham Jones ...

and

Gus Kahn Gustav Gerson Kahn (November 6, 1886October 8, 1941) was an American lyricist who contributed a number of songs to the Great American Songbook, including "Pretty Baby", "Ain't We Got Fun?", "Carolina in the Morning", "Toot, Toot, Tootsie (Goo' By ...

(lyrics))

External links

* * 1936 films 1936 musical films RKO Pictures short films American black-and-white films American musical films Films directed by Ben Holmes 1930s English-language films 1930s American films {{musical-film-stub