Ready, Willing and Able

Ready, Willing and Able (1937)

Genres - Musical, Comedy  |   Release Date - Mar 6, 1937 (USA - Unknown)  |   Run Time - 93 min.  |   Countries - United States  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Review by Craig Butler

Definitely a second-tier musical, Ready, Willing and Able is remembered today for its "typewriter" staging, set to the wonderful Johnny Mercer-Richard Whiting song, "Too Marvelous for Words." It definitely is a memorable five minutes, although it must be admitted that this is due more to conception than execution. It's not that the execution is bad, mind you, for Bobby Connolly's staging is sprightly and engaging, and the number is certainly satisfying. It's simply that one can't help but imagine what Busby Berkeley (in his prime) would have done with the same idea, taking the number to dizzying new heights. Even without Berkeley, however, "Marvelous" makes a deep impression for the sheer surreality of it all. Ready features a couple of other pleasant if undistinguished songs, as well as a tired story that stretches credulity in any number of places. Ruby Keeler and Lee Dixon perform their numbers well; they do less well in the dialogue scenes. Ross Alexander is quite fine in his dialogue, but far too obviously dubbed when singing. And Winifred Shaw score solidly throughout. Throw in some nice bits by Teddy Hart and Louise Fazenda, and the result is an accommodating if generally unexceptional little tuner.