Directed by:
Lloyd BaconCinematography:
George BarnesCast:
James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Frank McHugh, Guy Kibbee, Ruth Donnelly, Hugh Herbert, Claire Dodd, Gordon Westcott, Arthur Hohl (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Chester Kent, a successful producer of musical comedies, finds himself out of work with the advent of talking pictures. His wife leaves him when he breaks the news to her, but he's not down for long. He convinces his two partners, Sy Gould and Frazer, to join him in producing prologues, live performances to be presented before the movies are shown, and soon he has more business than he can handle. Everything does not function smoothly, however. As soon as Chester thinks up ideas, his competitor, Gladstone, beats him to the punch. Added to this is the fact that his partners seem to be cheating him out of his share of the profits. Throughout all the chaos, he depends on his loyal secretary, Nan Prescott, who is madly in love with him, even though he doesn't realize it. Instead, to Nan's disgust, he has fallen for Vivian Rich, a gold digging actress. Then theater chain owner Appolinaris agrees that if Chester can come up with three new shows in three days, he'll sign all his theaters with him. Frantically, Chester sets to work, locking everyone in the studio to prevent leaks. With Nan's help, he pays off his ex-wife, collects his share of the profits, discovers Vivian's true nature, finds the leak and stages his three prologues. The first two numbers are a big success. Then at the last minute, Chester has to go on as the lead in the third because the star is drunk. He performs splendidly, gets the contract and after his last bow, he proposes to Nan. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
James Cagney
USA
Best movies:
The Roaring Twenties (1939)
One, Two, Three (1961)
White Heat (1949)
Joan Blondell
USA
Best movies:
Grease (1978)
Bullets or Ballots (1936)
The Public Enemy (1931)
Ruby Keeler
Canada
Best movies:
Dames (1934)
Footlight Parade (1933)
Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
Dick Powell
USA
Best movies:
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)
The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
The Tall Target (1951)
Frank McHugh
USA
Best movies:
The Roaring Twenties (1939)
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)
The Front Page (1931)
Guy Kibbee
USA
Best movies:
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
It Started with Eve (1941)
Captain Blood (1935)
Ruth Donnelly
USA
Best movies:
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
Hugh Herbert
USA
Best movies:
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)
Hellzapoppin' (1941)
A Song Is Born (1948)
Claire Dodd
USA
Best movies:
The Black Cat (1941)
Ex-Lady (1933)
Roberta (1935)
Gordon Westcott
USA
Best movies:
Queen Kelly (1929)
Footlight Parade (1933)
Love Me Tonight (1932)
Arthur Hohl
USA
Best movies:
Monsieur Verdoux (1947)
The Yearling (1946)
You Gotta Stay Happy (1948)
Paul Porcasi
Italy
Best movies:
Casablanca (1942)
It Started with Eve (1941)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
Philip Faversham
USA
Best movies:
BUtterfield 8 (1960)
Footlight Parade (1933)
Herman Bing
German Empire
Best movies:
Sunrise (1927)
Dumbo (1941)
Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940)
John Garfield
USA
Best movies:
Anni difficili (1948)
Juarez (1939)
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
Billy Barty
USA
Best movies:
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)
'Weird Al' Yankovic: The Videos (1996) (video compilation)
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Ann Sothern
USA
Best movies:
Crazy Mama (1975)
The Best Man (1964)
Footlight Parade (1933)
Dorothy Lamour
USA
Best movies:
The Name of the Game (1968) (series)
The Hurricane (1937)
The Extraordinary Seaman (1969) - a.f.
Dave O'Brien
USA
Best movies:
The Sign of the Cross (1932)
Pack Up Your Troubles (1932)
Footlight Parade (1933)
Sam McDaniel
USA
Best movies:
Double Indemnity (1944)
Captains Courageous (1937)
Union Pacific (1939)