Delicious
Released by Fox Film Corporation on December 25, 1931 at the Roxy Theatre in New York City. Music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Screenplay by Guy Bolton and Sonya Levien, adapted from an original story by Bolton. Directed by David Butler. Produced by Winfield Sheehan. Cast included Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell, Mischa Auer, El Brendel, Paul Roulien, and Manya Roberti.
Based on the Broadway success of GIRL CRAZY, the Gershwins and librettist Guy Bolton were contracted by Fox Film Corporation for DELICIOUS. It was the first trip to California for the brothers. George wrote an extended musical sequence entitled NEW YORK RHAPSODY in addition to the half dozen songs that he and Ira fashioned for the score. When they returned to New York in February 1931, not only did George have the beginnings of what would become his SECOND RHAPSODY, but he and Ira had also begun work on the score to their next project, OF THEE I SING. Unfortunately the release of DELICIOUS was so long in coming that the movie-going public had lost its appetite for musicals and the film was not a commercial or artistic success. It would take the advent of the stylish Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musicals for RKO to bring the Gershwins back to Hollywood.
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