Girl Crazy [F, 1932]
Released in March 1932 by RKO. Music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Screenplay by Tim Whelan, from an adaptation by Herman J. Mankiewicz of the 1930 Broadway musical by George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Guy Bolton, and John McGowan. Dialogue by Eddie Welch and Walter deLeon. Directed by William A. Seiter. Produced by William LeBaron. Cast included Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, Dorothy Lee, Eddie Quillan, and Mitzi Green.
The first adaptation of the Gershwins’ hit 1930 Broadway musical was turned into this slapstick comedy starring two now-forgotten early Hollywood stars, Wheeler and Woolsey, who had first teamed up on Broadway in 1927’s RIO RITA. Most of the show’s songs were eliminated for the movie, but George and Ira were asked to add one new number, “You’ve Got What Gets Me,” later recorded by Ella Fitzgerald as part of her Gershwin songbook collection with Nelson Riddle.