Follow the Leader
Ethel Merman was a last-minute replacement for Ruth Etting.,Referenced in Romance in Manhattan (1934),Broadway (The Heart of the World)
(uncredited)
Music by Ray Henderson
Lyrics by Lew Brown and Buddy G. DeSylva,The waiter in question is Ed Wynn (Cricket) and the film starts off as it means to continue, so if you find Wynn's character and style of comedy funny then you are in for a treat. Occasionally, he is funny with his quickness and randomness when telling his stories. He uses repetition and a certain degree of fluid thinking in his comic delivery. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. He also throws in a girly, child-like giggle at the end of his sentences which just sounds retarded.

The story involves Wynn becoming leader of a gang of thugs and playing match-maker to a rather boring Ginger Rogers (Mary) and equally uninspiring Stanley Smith (Jimmie). The plot is to make Ginger a star on stage by kidnapping her rival Ethel Merman (Helen) who clearly has way more talent that Rogers as demonstrated by the song she sings. Rogers doesn't get to sing and is only given a very basic dance step to perform which is a complete waste given that she was a champion Charleston dancer 4 years prior to this film.

I expected more from this film so it was a disappointment. Phil Silvers clearly based his comedy persona on Wynn. They are identical in both looks and style.,