Customer Reviews

Roman Scandals [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Yes, I'm under 30, and I love this movie. This is Depression-era musical entertainment at its finest: it's got Eddie Cantor, Ruth Etting, Busby Berkeley directed dance numbers, a chariot race, big sumptuous art deco sets, and truckloads of scantily dressed chorus girls! Although it has its corny moments, it's hardly ever sappy and never slow: a lot of the jokes are still funny, even after 70 years, and the songs are really incredibly catchy, especially "Build a Little Home" and "Keep Young and Beautiful." The plot is whimsical fantasy at its most charming: it's something of a cross between "The Wizard of Oz" and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." By '30's standards, "Scandals" was risque, and by today's standards, it's not particularly politically correct. But who cares? It's loads of fun! (Interestingly enough, I once heard "Keep Young and Beautiful" on an episode of "Daria." An instrumental version was playing over the credits. I never would have thought I would have heard a song by Warren & Dubin on MTV...)

I'd heard and read about this film since I was a kid in the 60's but never got the chance to see it until recently. I suggest you do the same! It's kinda like "A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court", "Brigadoon" and "Wizard Of Oz" wrapped into one.
Cantor is a citizen of the American town, West Rome and suddenly finds himself transported to Ancient Rome. David Manners is a co-star and is much better in this film than in the Universal horror classics (like "Dracula") where he played a somewhat smarmy, prissy hero. He goes from bad guy, to good guy, to romantic guy, to action hero and I actually enjoyed him in this film. Gloria Stuart, who played "Old Rose" in 1997's TITANIC, plays Princess Sylvia, and is she ever a hotsy-totsy! Lucille Ball gets billing on the VHS back cover, but none in the film. She's basically just one of the many "Goldwyn Girls" featured. You can also catch a glimpse of Lucy's best friend at the time, Barbara Pepper, another hot Goldwyn Girl who went on to star as Mrs. Ziffel in the 1960's GREEN ACRES tv show! There's a great Busby Berkeley "slave market" scene with the girls stripped naked (honest!), shackled, with their long, flowing blond hair covering all their major body parts. Need more? Some of the jokes are predictable but I found myself laughing aloud at some of the pratfalls. How did the stuntmen survive some of these scenes without being seriously injured? Especially in the great chariot chase scene at the end with Cantor and Manners running from the bad guys. This is great, classic 1930's stuff and if you enjoy old films, this won't let you down.

This was Eddie Cantor's most successful movie and it's good fun. He plays Eddie(!) who lives in Rome, Oklahoma. In the early part of the film there's a beautiful young blonde girl who announces to everyone: "Here comes Eddie!" - It's 22 year old Lucille Ball in her very first appearance on film! Eddie dreams he's in Rome of yore and there's hardly a dull part in the whole movie - it's really very funny. Cantor was 41 when he did this but you'd never guess it; the elusive Ruth Etting sings "No More Love" and the Goldwyn Girls get into "Keep Young and Beautiful". Gloria Stuart of "Titanic" fame is young and gorgeous here and Edward Arnold is very modern in his comedy playing. Interestingly enough the film has bookends a la "The Wizard of Oz" (although there is no technicolor)and the theme of the film is "Build a Little Home" One must remember that 1933 was nearly 70 years ago; if you can't stand the corn, get out of the field!

Arguably Cantor's best film (with "Whoopee" and "Kid Millions" a close second and third), blessed with a great central premise (a la "A Connecticut Yankee"), terrific performances (watch for Lucille Ball as one of the Goldwyn Girls in "Keep Young and Beautiful"), and a great score (the aforementioned number, as well as "Put a Tax on Love" and "Build a Little Home"). A truly captivating time capsule of the musical diversions made to offset the Great Depression, and a compelling reminder of why Cantor was reckoned one of the bright lights of his day!

Having seen this movie numerous times throughout the years has given it a special place in my heart. I first saw this film as a young kid and found it entertaining on the physical comedy alone. As an adult I enjoy it now for different reasons of course. The laughing lava gas scene is pulled off by all involved. Eddie was a fine comedian and the cast all shine. Besides it's a fun movie to watch. Sure some of the songs my be corny (as well as the humor) by todays standards, but what fun. I never tire of this one. And can only hope that a younger generation will discover it's magic and overlook the technical shortcomings as well as it's dated format. Enjoy. I know that I will again and again.

Why is Eddie Cantor so obscure? He certainly has the talent to rank as one of the greatest. It is almost as if he was black listed, or else crushed someones top hat. He deserves more exposure, DVD release please!

The musical comedy ROMAN SCANDALS was scripted by George Kaufman (Broadway playwright for the Marx Bros. and others). It's the story of a young history buff named Eddie (Cantor) from West Rome, OK who dreams he's living in 3rd Century Rome. Sold as a slave, 'Oedipus' ends up as food taster in the court of Emperor Valerian. Political intrigues in the old capital of the ancient world mirror the corruption going on in modern West Rome.

Co-starring as 'Olga' is 1920s torch singer Ruth Etting. Her tragic story was depicted in LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME (1955), with Doris Day as Ruth. (DVD version)

"Roman Scandals" includes several Busby Berkeley production numbers featuring Goldwyn Girls Lucille Ball and Paulette Goddard. Primary cinematographer is Gregg Toland of "Citizen Kane" fame. (Watch for the diminutive Billy Barty as 'Little Eddie.')


As of 7/09, "Roman Scandals" was not available on DVD.
Eddie Cantor appeared on Broadway and and in the film version of Flo Ziegfeld's musical WHOOPEE (1930), an early two-strip Technicolor picture. (VHS only)


Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 viewer poll rating fond at a film resource website.

(6.8) Roman Scandals (1933) - Eddie Cantor/Ruth Etting/Gloria Stuart/David Manners/Edward Arnold/Verree Teasdale/Alan Mowbray (uncredited: Lucille Ball/Paulette Goddard/Billy Barty/Lane Chandler)

This was my 1st Eddie Cantor movie. I found him one of the best comidieans I have ever seen, and he lights up this movie with a really funny and remarkable comedic energy. But as for the movie itself, it was pretty bland and the musical numbers were DUDS. Never very clever, they are pretty much just an excuse to showcase some girls and Eddie Cantor and Ruth Etting are the best things about them. I was movied by Ruth's singing of that song and thought she proved to be a great actress by that. I cried. But if you are looking some good, lavish, numbers then skip Roman Scandals. But it's a good comedy film. Pity that Cantor's only movie on DVD is Glorifying the American Girl, and he is no the star in that. Wish that Whoopee! will come to DVD because the tape is more than i want to spend.

A nice clean VHS recording of an old Eddie Cantor classic. The moral and social messages of this film are as topical today as they were ~75 years ago. A fun romp showing off the Goldman Girls. It's a shame they haven't digitally restored this to DVD or BluRay.

If you do not expect too much then this can be a fun movie. It runs along the lines of "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court". Eddie Cantor wakes up in Roman times and has a number of adventures.You have to take in account the age of this movie and decide if the comedy of this era appeals to you or not. I like Laurel & Hardy, Abbott & Costello and though this was not as funny, it was enjoyable.