Variety Girl is a 1947 American musical comedy film directed by George Marshall….and starring Mary Hatcher, Olga San Juan, DeForest Kelley, Frank Ferguson, Glenn Tryon, Nella Walker, Torben Meyer, Jack Norton, and William Demarest…..which was produced by Paramount Pictures. Numerous Paramount contract players and directors make cameos or perform songs including Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, William Holden et al….with particularly large amounts of screen time featuring Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.
The opening caption reads, “This picture is dedicated to Variety Clubs, International…who is “The Heart of Show Business”, which beats constantly in behalf of the under-privileged children of the world … regardless of race, creed or color”….as the story revolves around two young girls who exchange identities….which causes confusion at the Variety Club (show-business charity) and the Paramount studio.
The elaborate closing song, “Harmony”….which begins with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope singing and dancing on stage in matching checkered suits and straw hats….as the music eventually moves to a merry-go-round with Gary Cooper in cowboy regalia seated on a plastic horse….while talking through a couple of stanzas with Barry Fitzgerald…..then it gradually incorporates the entire cast….which includes almost everyone under contract to Paramount at the time, in a rousing finale launched by William Holden and Ray Milland chasing a scantily-clad woman across a sound stage….as seen in this video herewith.
