Delicious

Delicious

(David Butler, US 1931, 106 min., 35mm)

This ninth pairing of romantic leads Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell is the first film fully scored by George and Ira Gerswhin. In addition to the six songs the brothers wrote for the film, including the silly, romantic title tune, this was the premiere of George Gershwin’s Second Rhapsody (alternately called New York Rhapsody and, later, Rhapsody in Rivets), set to a glorious seven-minute montage following Gaynor around the city. Gaynor plays Heather, a Scottish immigrant coming to New York, who finds herself in a love triangle with a Russian songsmith (Raul Roulien) and a wealthy American (Farrell). When Heather’s admittance to the United States is threatened, she must find a way to stay in the country, including accepting an unwelcome proposal of marriage.