Palmy Days (1931) in Color — Starring Eddie Cantor & Charlotte Greenwood

Palmy Days (1931) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover Palmy Days, the 1931 musical comedy starring Eddie Cantor and Charlotte Greenwood, now available as a professionally colorized version. This exuberant pre-Code extravaganza features early choreography by the legendary Busby Berkeley and a young George Raft in one of the most joyful musical comedies of the early sound era. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

Eddie Simpson works as a reluctant assistant to a phony psychic named Yolando, who uses his elaborate spiritualist act as a front for swindling wealthy and gullible clients out of their fortunes. Eddie has been roped into the operation against his better judgment, forced to help Yolando fleece his marks by feeding him information through hidden earpieces and planted stooges in the audience. When Eddie accidentally stumbles upon evidence of Yolando’s most dangerous criminal scheme yet — a plot to defraud a wealthy bakery owner — he panics and flees the psychic’s lair, knowing that Yolando will stop at nothing to silence him.

Desperate for a hiding place, Eddie takes refuge in the very bakery that Yolando has been targeting, where through a comedy of errors he is mistaken for an efficiency expert who has been hired to modernize operations. Thrown headfirst into the chaotic world of industrial baking, Eddie must dodge Yolando’s increasingly desperate henchmen while learning to navigate the assembly lines, mixing vats, and ovens of his new workplace. Along the way he falls for the lovely bakery worker Joan, whose practical good sense stands in sharp contrast to the madness swirling around Eddie at every turn. The bakery setting provides ample opportunity for spectacular slapstick chaos, elaborate musical numbers featuring dozens of dancers choreographed by Busby Berkeley in geometric formations among the flour sacks and bread racks, and Eddie’s signature rapid-fire comedy routines delivered at breathless speed.

Cast & Crew

Director: A. Edward Sutherland

Stars: Eddie Cantor, Charlotte Greenwood, Charles Middleton, George Raft, Barbara Weeks, Spencer Charters

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

Palmy Days was originally filmed in black and white, capturing the lavish musical numbers and Eddie Cantor’s dynamic physical comedy in the crisp visual style of early 1930s Hollywood. This professionally colorized restoration brings new sparkle to every scene with frame-by-frame precision, from the ornate psychic parlor draped in deep purples and mystical golds to the spectacular bakery dance sequences where Berkeley’s chorus girls form kaleidoscopic patterns amid gleaming chrome machinery and white flour-dusted surfaces. Charlotte Greenwood’s legendary high-kicking dance routines gain new energy in color, her costumes vivid against the Art Deco backdrops. The contrast between Yolando’s dark, theatrical lair and the bright, flour-white bakery becomes a striking visual metaphor for Eddie’s journey from criminal servitude to honest work and genuine romance. Now also available in colour.

Buy Palmy Days in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Released in 1931, Palmy Days was one of Eddie Cantor’s most commercially successful vehicles for Samuel Goldwyn, cementing his status as one of Hollywood’s biggest box-office draws during the early sound era. The film holds particular significance in cinema history as it featured early choreography by Busby Berkeley, who would revolutionize the movie musical genre just two years later with his legendary work on 42nd Street and Gold Diggers of 1933 at Warner Bros. Berkeley’s innovative overhead camera angles and geometric group formations are already visible in embryonic form here, making the film an essential document of his artistic development. The cast provided audiences with an early glimpse of George Raft, who appeared as one of Yolando’s henchmen shortly before skyrocketing to fame in Scarface. Charlotte Greenwood, celebrated on Broadway for her extraordinary physical comedy and acrobatic dance style, brought her unique talents to the screen in a role that showcased her remarkable flexibility and comic timing. As a pre-Code production, the film’s humor is refreshingly uninhibited, with double entendres and risqué sight gags that would vanish from Hollywood films once the Production Code was enforced in 1934. Through modern colorization, this exuberant musical comedy reaches new audiences who can enjoy its timeless entertainment and witness the early work of several artists who would reshape American cinema.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Original mono restored
• Runtime: Approximately 77 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: What makes Palmy Days special among Eddie Cantor films?
A: The film uniquely combines Cantor’s trademark rapid-fire physical comedy and musical talent with early Busby Berkeley choreography, creating an entertaining blend of slapstick, song, and spectacle that anticipated the lavish musicals of the mid-1930s.

Q: Who are the supporting cast members?
A: Charlotte Greenwood co-stars with her famous high-kicking dance routines, Charles Middleton plays the villainous Yolando, and a young George Raft appears in an early role before becoming a major Hollywood star.

Q: Is this a pre-Code film?
A: Yes, made in 1931 before the strict enforcement of the Production Code, the humor is refreshingly uninhibited with risqué comedy and double entendres typical of early 1930s Hollywood.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as an MP4 file that plays on virtually any device.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

Related Colorized Classics

• Born to Dance (1936)
• Follow the Fleet (1936)
• Song of Love (1947)
• The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
• Hollywood Canteen (1944)