Four Jacks and a Jill (film)

Four Jacks and a Jill
Directed by	Jack Hively
Written by	John Twist
Based on	The Viennese Charmer 1928 in Young's Magazine by W. Carey Wonderly
Produced by	John Twist
Starring	Ray Bolger Desi Arnaz June Havoc
Cinematography	Russell Metty
Edited by	George Hively
Music by	C. Bakaleinikoff
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures
Release date	January 23, 1942 (1942-01-23)
Running time	68 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Four Jacks and a Jill is a 1942 musical comedy film starring Ray Bolger, Anne Shirley, June Havoc and Desi Arnaz.

It lost $113,000.^[1]

Plot

Nifty Sullivan, a bandleader, saves Katarina "Nina" Novak from being hit by a car, but rather than being grateful, Nina blames him for losing a ticket she had to a concert. Nifty escorts her there himself, then introduces her to his band, Four Jacks and a Queen, the queen being their singer, Opal.

Opal, who is dating a gangster called Noodle, quits the band, which then loses its nightclub job. Nina claims she once was a singer who entertained European royalty, King Stephen, and gets the band hired by a club owner called Hoople who believes her tale that the King himself will come see them perform.

Nifty realizes that Nina is both broke and a born liar. But, by coincidence, taxi driver Steve Sarto, who is trying to woo Opal, is a dead ringer for the King. He comes to the club pretending to be his majesty, but Noodle wants to flatten him for paying too much attention to Opal, and then confusion reigns when the actual King shows up.

Cast

• Ray Bolger as Nifty Sullivan
• Anne Shirley as Nina Novak (singing voice was dubbed by Martha Mears)
• June Havoc as Opal
• Desi Arnaz as Steve Sarto
• Eddie Foy, Jr. as Happy
• Jack Durant as Noodle
• Fritz Feld as Hoople
• Grady Sutton as nightclub patron

Musical numbers

• I'm in Good Shape

Sung and Danced by Ray Bolger

• I Haven't a Thing to Wear

Sung and Danced by June Havoc

• Karanina

Sung by Anne Shirley (dubbed by Martha Mears), Eddie Foy Jr., Jack Briggs and William Blees

• Boogie Woogie Conga

Sung and Danced by Ray Bolger, Eddie Foy Jr., Jack Briggs and William Blees

• Wherever You Go

Sung by Anne Shirley (dubbed by Martha Mears), then danced by Ray Bolger and Anne Shirley

• You Go Your Way

Sung by Anne Shirley (dubbed by Martha Mears)

• Boogie Woogie Conga (reprise)

Sung by Desi Arnaz, June Havoc, Bob Perry and Constantine Romanoff

References

1. Richard Jewell & Vernon Harbin, The RKO Story. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1982. p169

External list

• Four Jacks and a Jill at IMDb
• Four Jacks and a Jill at the TCM Movie Database
• Four Jacks and a Jill at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films