Top Banana (1954)

A comedian (Phil Silvers) is the star of a successful weekly variety show. He hires a model (Judy Lynn) to appear in his show because he is attracted to her. What he doesn't know is that she's in love with the show's tenor (Danny Scholl). Based on the Broadway musical (songs by Johnny Mercer) of the same name and directed by Alfred E. Green (THE JOLSON STORY). The show ran for a year in 1951 with Phil Silvers winning a Tony award for his performance. After taking the show on tour, the production was filmed. This is perhaps the earliest example of literally filming a play as opposed to adapting the play for the screen. The director basically put his camera out front and filmed the play in a studio with random inserted shots of an audience. No concessions were made for cinema, there are no close ups whatsoever, just the actors moving back and forth across the stage. The acting is broad and they all play it to the balcony. If you have an affinity for burlesque or vaudeville, you might get some enjoyment out of it. I just found it dull. Shot in five days, the whole thing just looks cheap. With Rose Marie, Jack Albertson and Joey Faye.