‘Sing, You Sinners’ from 1938: Three Musical Brothers

American actor Donald O'Connor playing the accordion at age 12 in 1938. (Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Commentary

I’m always on the lookout for hidden gems from the Golden Era of Hollywood. It’s amazing how many now-forgotten movies feature great performances from the early careers of famous entertainers. “Sing, You Sinners” is just such a film. Released in 1938, it’s the story of three brothers, played by Bing Crosby, Fred MacMurray, and Donald O’Connor—all younger than you’ve probably ever seen them before.

This is before Bing Crosby made “Holiday Inn,” “Goin’ My Way,” and “White Christmas.” It’s before Fred MacMurray was in “Double Indemnity,” TV series “My Three Sons,” and the 1960s Disney live action films. It’s also before Donald O’Connor was in the “Francis the Talking Mule” film series and “Singin’ in the Rain.”

"Sing You Sinners" lobby card from 1938. (MovieStillsDB)

This film is a treasure when judged only on its own merit. It’s about family, music, and the importance of hard work. It’s about sticking together and fighting for what you know to be right. It’s funny, touching, delightful, and even tense at times. In addition, it has some wonderful musical numbers from three very talented performers. However, the revival-themed title doesn’t tell you much about the film.

The Story

This story centers on the Beebes, a family in a small California town consisting of a mother (Elizabeth Patterson) and her three sons, Dave (MacMurray), Joe (Crosby), and little Mike (O’Connor). Dave is engaged to Martha (Ellen Drew), but he refuses to set the date until he knows his family will be able to take care of themselves. That isn’t likely to happen very soon, since Joe refuses to get a serious job. He’s only interested in swapping things and making an easy dollar. The only employment he’ll ever get is singing, usually performing in a trio with his two brothers, who hate to make use of the music lessons their mother made them take for years.

Headshot portrait of American singer and actor Bing Crosby, circa 1935. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

After drunkenly making a play for Martha, Joe realizes he’s been a heel, so he gets a job at the local gas station. However, he gets fired within hours for trading gasoline for customers’ unwanted junk. He decides it’s time for him to set out on his own, so he leaves for Los Angeles, promising to send for his mother and Mike once he’s made good. It’s not long before he wires the family that he owns a swap shop in Los Angeles, telling Dave to sell the house, marry Martha, and send the folks to come live with him. When they arrive, they find that Joe has traded the shop for a racehorse named Uncle Gus. They have to live on credit for months until Uncle Gus might win a race, so he trains every day with Mike as his jockey.

Mrs. Beebe doesn’t want Dave to delay his marriage again, so she tries to keep their predicament a secret. However, he and Martha decide to get married in Los Angeles with the family in attendance, and it’s not long before Mike spills the beans about his racing. The three brothers then take a job singing in a nightclub, earning some extra money as the big race draws near.

American actor Fred MacMurray holds the reins of his horse, Star, in 1936. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Music of the Day

Bing Crosby was a famous radio singer before becoming a movie star, and he gets to show off his vocal talents in this movie. His only solo is “Don’t Let That Moon Get Away,” which he sings at a roadside restaurant with a band led by his real-life music partner, Harry Barris of The Rhythm Boys. Fred MacMurray isn’t generally considered a musical star, but he was a musician before becoming an actor. As far back as high school, he played the saxophone in bands, even playing with Gus Arnheim and his Coconut Grove Orchestra when Bing Crosby was the vocalist. Fred was also an accomplished singer, so he also sang on a record with Arnheim the same year. Twelve-year-old Donald O’Connor was already a veteran performer by the time of “Sing, You Sinners,” since he had toured and performed in vaudeville and circus acts with his family his whole life.

As the Beebe trio, the three brothers sing, tap dance, and play instruments, with Dave on saxophone, Joe on guitar, and Mike on accordion. The number they perform multiple times is “A Pocketful of Dreams,” a peppy Depression Era-themed tune which also serves as background music throughout the film. The score is rounded out by a really cute number called “Small Fry.” The brothers perform the musical scene when they’re working in a Los Angeles night club. They spoof a Southern family, with Joe as the bearded Pa, Dave as the corncob pipe-smoking Ma, and Mike as the mischievous son. Bing sings most of this song, but Donald O’Connor gets his biggest chance to shine in this number. In this scene, you can see how the role of Mike was originally intended for Mickey Rooney—but the younger O’Connor brings his own spunky pizzazz to the part.

American actor Donald O'Connor playing the accordion at age 12 in 1938. (Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

This film has a distinctly 1930s feel. You might think this is redundant and obvious, since it was made in 1938. However, not every film made in the second half of the decade encapsulates the qualities of this unique time period. “Sing, You Sinners” captures the simple, homespun quality which marked the Depression Era because it focuses on a smalltown family. These average folks have just enough to be comfortable, with little extra to tide them over between paychecks. It’s clear that Dave feels a lot of pressure to earn enough to support the whole family, a hefty responsibility because Joe doesn’t want to work. The fashions, homey locales, and above all the music are constant reminders that you’re watching a 1930s movie, which I love!

Beating the Odds

As Joe Beebe, Bing Crosby definitely plays “against type.” In most of his movies, “Der Bingle” played a happy-go-lucky, likeable everyman, sometimes even a man of faith, as in his Academy Award-winning role as Father O’Malley. Not only is Joe far from devout, he’s a downright troublemaker. The usual Crosby charm makes it hard for the audience to dislike him, just as his family can’t help forgiving his shiftless, irresponsible ways. The way he convincingly portrays this morally ambiguous character is a fine testament to his acting abilities. One of the funniest scenes is at the racetrack, after Joe first arrives in Los Angeles. He befriends another racetrack fan, a befuddled gambler played by Tom Dugan. By persuading him to trade tickets on every race, Joe manages to win a large sum, much to Dugan’s comical frustration.

General view of a horse race at the Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia, Calif., in an undated photo. (Mike Powell/Getty Images)

The racetrack scenes in the movie were filmed at the Santa Anita and Pomona racetracks, using two dozen horses which Bing Crosby owned. The horse which is shown winning the race as Uncle Gus was Bing’s own Ligaroti. As you may know, Bing was a huge racing fan in real life, earning a joking reputation around Hollywood of always owning losing horses. In addition, Bing was instrumental in building the Del Mar Racetrack, where he greeted fans at the turnstiles on the opening day on July 3, 1937. His recording of the song “Where the Surf Meets the Turf,” which was written specifically for the racetrack, is still played there before the races. This film was premiered at the Del Mar Racetrack on August 5, 1938. Just one week later, Ligaroti would lose to renowned racehorse Seabiscuit in a famous match.

As Mike says, “This is the darndest family!” Nevertheless, it’s a wonderful movie which your family will love!