Sing, Baby, Sing

Sing, Baby, Sing

Year: 1936

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Sidney Lanfield

Music

A mad, merry musical spoofing the famous “Caliban‑Ariel” romance, with Adolphe Menjou as a boozy, womanizing former star and Alice Faye as a publicity‑hungry nightclub singer. Her scheming agent (Gregory Ratoff) engineers a fake romance with Menjou, but she eventually pairs with Michael Whalen, leaving Menjou to enjoy his carefree, wine‑filled bachelor life. The film marks the Ritz Brothers’ feature debut, showcasing their comic numbers and a curtain‑call encore after the credits.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Sing, Baby, Sing (1936)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Sing, Baby, Sing (1936). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1930s

The story unfolds in the 1930s, a period when radio and sensational press shaped celebrity. Publicity and showmanship drive careers more than formal credentials. The era’s media culture caffeine the plot, pushing characters to craft narratives that can be aired nationwide.

Location

Ritz Club, Madison Towers, Kansas City

Ritz Club is a glamorous nightclub where Joan Warren loses her job and the showbiz world first tests her mettle. Madison Towers serves as the upscale residence for Farraday and his circle, a hub of wealth, power, and publicity. Kansas City becomes the staging ground for a big radio broadcast, turning a city into the arena for a publicity-driven comeback.

🎭 Showbiz 🍸 Nightlife 🏨 Hotels

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:32

Main Characters – Sing, Baby, Sing (1936)

Meet the key characters of Sing, Baby, Sing (1936), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Joan Warren (Alice Faye)

A gifted, resilient singer who must navigate gatekeepers and societal expectations to revive her career. She combines charm with a sharp sense of practicality, using performance and publicity to seize opportunities.

🎤 Singer 🎭 Performer 🧠 Clever

Nicky Alexander (Gregory Ratoff)

A crafty theatrical agent who maneuveres through the industry’s politics to advance Joan’s career. He’s pragmatic, resourceful, and fond of turning publicity into profit.

🕴️ Agent 🎭 Showman 💼 Strategist

Bruce Farraday (Adolphe Menjou)

A fading actor whose public image is leveraged to create sensational stories. His wandering memory and fluctuating fame become tools in a larger publicity scheme.

🎭 Actor 🍷 Drunk

Al Craven (Ted Healy)

Nicky's secretary Fitz's brother and a comedic foil who helps navigate the chaotic publicity plot with a mixture of wit and opportunism.

🤣 Comedian 🎬 Foil

Fitz (Patsy Kelly)

Nicky's sharp-witted secretary, often the quick voice of reality in a world of schemes. She contributes to the plotting with humor and savvy.

💡 Sidekick 🎤 Chorus

Robert Wilson (Montagu Love)

Farraday’s cousin and business manager, he resists Joan’s publicity-driven rise and tries to steer the star away from danger through control of the narrative.

💼 Executive 🧭 Rival

Brewster (Paul Stanton)

President of the Federal Broadcasting Company who places a condition on hiring Joan, embodying the gatekeeping forces of the industry.

🧑‍💼 Executive 💼 Publisher

Ted Blake (Michael Whalen)

A cynical reporter who helps unfold and frame the publicity stunt narrative, providing press coverage that drives the plot.

🗞️ Reporter 🧭 Observer

Joe (Cully Richards)

A photographer who captures the pivotal moments that shape Joan’s public image, contributing to the media narrative.

📷 Photographer 🕵️ Observer

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:32

Major Themes – Sing, Baby, Sing (1936)

Explore the central themes of Sing, Baby, Sing (1936), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎬 Publicity stunts

Publicity stunts propel the narrative, showing how media can manufacture celebrity and shape fortune. Nicky's scheme around Farraday's 'deathbed' turns Joan's audition into a national event. The film satirizes the press's hunger for spectacle in the 1930s showbiz world. Ultimately the truth is revealed on air, vindicating Joan.

💼 Class barriers

Joan's rejection by Brewster because she is not 'upper class' highlights rigid social hierarchies in the entertainment industry. The plot uses social status as a gatekeeping device, contrasting talent with pedigree. The characters navigate these rules through wit, alliances, and calculated publicity.

🎶 Music and performance

Musical numbers and the Ritz Brothers' antics energize the film and propel its momentum. Joan's performances are used to prove her worth beyond social standing. The show becomes a vehicle for collaboration between performers and agents, illustrating the era's showbiz machinery.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:32

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Sing, Baby, Sing Summary

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Sing, Baby, Sing Summary

Sing, Baby, Sing Timeline

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Sing, Baby, Sing Timeline

More About Sing, Baby, Sing

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Sing, Baby, Sing (1936) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Sing, Baby, Sing (1936) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Sing, Baby, Sing (1936) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow