Whoopee! (film)
Whoopee! is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy musical Western film photographed in two-color Technicolor. It was directed by Thornton Freeland and stars Eddie Cantor, Ethel Shutta and Eleanor Hunt. The film's plot closely follows that of the 1928 stage show produced by Florenz Ziegfeld. Plot
Sally Morgan loves an Indian named Wanenis, but her father forbids her to marry Wanenis, instead favoring sheriff Bob Wells. Just before marrying Wells, Sally decides that she loves Wanenis too much and tricks farmhand Henry Williams into helping her flee to the ranch of Jerome Underwood. Wells searches for Sally, causing trouble for the oblivious Henry. Cast

 Eddie Cantor as Henry Williams
 Ethel Shutta as Mary Custer
 Paul Gregory as Wanenis
 Eleanor Hunt as Sally Morgan
 Jack Rutherford as Sheriff Bob Wells
 Walter Law as Jud Morgan
 Spencer Charters as Jerome Underwood
 Albert Hackett as Chester Underwood
 Marian Marsh as Harriett Underwood

Production
Whoopee! made a film star of Eddie Cantor, already known for his work on the Broadway stage and as a singer. The song "My Baby Just Cares for Me" was written especially for Cantor to sing in the film and became his signature song. Bandleader George Olsen, already a well-known Victor recording artist, repeated his work from the stage version. The film launched the Hollywood career of Busby Berkeley and was Alfred Newman's first composing job in Hollywood. Richard Day designed the sets and the cinematographer was Gregg Toland, who later found fame through his work in the films of Orson Welles. H. Bruce "Lucky" Humberstone served in an uncredited role as assistant director. Future stars Betty Grable, Paulette Goddard, Ann Sothern, Virginia Bruce and Claire Dodd appear uncredited as "Goldwyn Girls". Awards
The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction by Richard Day. See also
 List of early color feature films

References

External links

 
 
 
 
Film still of Goldwyn Girl at WalterFilm.com

1930 films
1930s color films
1930 musical comedy films
1930 romantic comedy films
American musical comedy films
American romantic comedy films
American romantic musical films
American Western (genre) comedy films
1930 Western (genre) films
American films based on plays
Films based on musicals
Films directed by Thornton Freeland
Films scored by Alfred Newman
Films shot in California
Samuel Goldwyn Productions films
United Artists films
Early color films
1930s English-language films
1930s American films
Goldwyn Girls
American Western (genre) musical films
1930s Western (genre) comedy films
1930s Western (genre) musical films