Honky Tonk

Sophie Leonard...er...Tucker does not like singing her heart out at the HONKY TONK that has made her the toast of Broadway. She's rather be fixing pancakes with honey (ick) for her beloved daughter. But when snobby daughter, who is educated abroad, and knows nothing about her Momma's Broadway career, dates a callow youth who knows darn well about Momma, will melodrama result?

This is a lost film with a surviving soundtrack that tantalizes mightily. Sophie sings six numbers in this, and puts on a broad, but seemingly compelling performance as a mythical Sophie who doesn't really like showbiz that much. From what can be heard, the plot, such as it is, is a watered down version of Applause, made risible by the conceit that daughter is completely ignorant of what Momma (who seems to be, well, Sophie Tucker) does for a living. Tucker, however, handles the dramatic scenes in good voice (she sounds something like Bette Midler, of all people). But the singing is the main thing here, and the soundtrack definitiely tells us Tucker was singing well.

I don't know if this film would be found disappointing if it is ever found. Everyone, except Sophie, is distressingly early talkie in their clearly enunciated vocal style. But Sophie is a force of nature on the soundtrack, and, had the film survived, it would have been the only talking film starring her, rather than having her sing a specialty number, and getting her quickly off stage.

This one needs to be found.