1942 film by Jack Hively
Four Jacks and a Jill is a 1942 musical comedy film starring Ray Bolger, Anne Shirley, June Havoc and Desi Arnaz.
It lost $113,000.[1]
Plot
Nifty Sullivan, a bandleader, saves Katarina "Nina" Novak from being hit by a car, but rather than being grateful, Nina blames him for losing a ticket she had to a concert. Nifty escorts her there himself, then introduces her to his band, Four Jacks and a Queen, the queen being their singer, Opal.
Opal, who is dating a gangster called Noodle, quits the band, which then loses its nightclub job. Nina claims she once was a singer who entertained European royalty, King Stephen, and gets the band hired by a club owner called Hoople who believes her tale that the King himself will come see them perform.
Nifty realizes that Nina is both broke and a born liar. But, by coincidence, taxi driver Steve Sarto, who is trying to woo Opal, is a dead ringer for the King. He comes to the club pretending to be his majesty, but Noodle wants to flatten him for paying too much attention to Opal, and then confusion reigns when the actual King shows up.
Cast
Musical numbers
Sung and Danced by Ray Bolger
- I Haven't a Thing to Wear
Sung and Danced by June Havoc
Sung by Anne Shirley (dubbed by Martha Mears), Eddie Foy Jr., Jack Briggs and William Blees
Sung and Danced by Ray Bolger, Eddie Foy Jr., Jack Briggs and William Blees
Sung by Anne Shirley (dubbed by Martha Mears), then danced by Ray Bolger and Anne Shirley
Sung by Anne Shirley (dubbed by Martha Mears)
- Boogie Woogie Conga (reprise)
Sung by Desi Arnaz, June Havoc, Bob Perry and Constantine Romanoff
References
- ^ Richard Jewell & Vernon Harbin, The RKO Story. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1982. p169
External list