~ Close Harmony ~
CLOSE HARMONY:
This film is the one I point to when
I need to illustrate Nancy's initial appeal to audiences in
those early-talkie days. While it is ultimately Buddy Rogers'
show (NOBODY could hope to top that roaring one-man-
orchestra finale), he and Nancy have terrific chemistry as a
team, and all of her talents and beauty are displayed to great
advantage. While more demanding roles would later allow
Nancy to delve deeper with her acting, her skill is very
evident in this film, giving her part a natural believability
that is a rarity in films of this period. There are certain
screen personalities of yesterday that project a personal
quality that makes their performances seem surprisingly
contemporary, and make you feel you were eavesdropping
rather than watching a performer. Nancy certainly qualifies.
It's always a delight to see Nancy dance, and her while I'd
never defend her as the best singer of her day, her trilling is
delightful if only in its complete lack of pretense. There is
no question that she and Rogers make one of the best-looking
couples on film. This picture also illustrates a couple of global
topics concerning the Carroll films of the period. First, it's of
interest that, while appearing as a conventionally winsome
female character, she is frequently in a power position...in this
case, she's the established star giving the green newcomer a leg
up. This of course was quite unusual at the time; most films
would have reversed the roles. Second, was any actress called on
to carry out MORE serious acting while wearing LESS clothes
than Nancy Carroll? It's always struck me as quite something
that she could pull off heavy and convincing dramatics while
happening to wear a costume you could slip into a cordial glass.
Very hard to do it without seeming self-conscious, or distracting
the audience. Yet Nancy pulls it off. Sometimes it seems like Jack Oakie, Skeets Gallagher and Harry Green were, in some combination,in every Paramount film in the first years of talkies, but I for one find them jolly personalities and always welcome them, even if their appeal is frequently greater than that of their material!Tom Bertino