Every Night at Eight was released on August 2,1935, and starred George Raft, Alice Faye, Patsy Kelly, and Frances Langford in her debut role. A musical with romantic and comedic elements directed by Raoul Walsh, it was a commercial success for Paramount. George, Alice, and Patsy were bankable stars and Frances was already a success in radio, so while there is seldom a sure thing when making a film, this one had significant odds in its favor.
The plot is about a no-nonsense band leader, ‘Tops’ Cardona, played by George, and an out-of-work singing trio trying to hit it big. There are several good tunes in the film, but the standouts are “I Feel a Song Coming On” and “I’m in the Mood for Love”.
Audiences enjoyed a look at what went into producing a radio show and this was one of the better films during the 1930s that was set in a radio station. The casting was pitch-perfect (pun intended) and all of the actors had major films in their futures. There is some stylish clothing on display especially with George in a mess jacket as well as several perfectly tailored suits.
George thought of himself as a dancer first and this film gave him an opportunity to show some smooth moves during Alice Faye’s solo rendition of “I Feel a Song Coming On”, a clip of which is below. His smile towards the end of the number does not seem to have been scripted but did fit the moment.
This film is available in the movies section of georgeraft.com. Also, there are clips of two songs from Every Night at Eight along with a photo and a lobby card of the cast.
