Shortly before Hecht's Paramount contract expired, producer Lou Brock at RKO borrowed him to direct the dance numbers on the musical "Melody Cruise" (at the time know under the title "Maiden Cruise"). Hecht put together a number that included a line of 36 girls for the Mark Sandrich film starring Charlie Ruggles and Phil Harris. However, after two weeks of working on "Maiden Cruise", Paramount recalled him claiming the RKO production had been delayed and that Hecht's work on Paramount's own "International House" was a priority. Dave Gould took over Hecht's work on the RKO film and received screen credits for the dance routines.