Millionaire gone astray

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Movie
German title Millionaire gone astray
Original title There goes my heart
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1938
length 83 minutes
Rod
Director Norman Z. McLeod
script Eddie Moran
Jack Jevne
production Hal Roach
music Marvin Hatley
camera Norbert Brodine
cut William Terhune
occupation

Millionaire on astray (original title There Goes My Heart ) is an American film from 1938. In this mistaken comedy directed by Norman Z. McLeod , Virginia Bruce plays a millionaire heiress who works unrecognized in her own department store. Fredric March embodies a reporter who falls in love with the young woman after initial contempt.

The script for the film is based on a story by the American entertainer Ed Sullivan , who was best known as the host of the Ed Sullivan show .

action

The millionaire heiress Joan Butterfield is leaving her grandfather's yacht because they have different opinions about what is best for Joan's future. Reporter Bill Spencer has been hired by his editor, Mr. Stevens, to take a photo of the young lady who is reluctant to be photographed. Bill can take a look at the young woman, but it's not enough for a photo. Spencer definitely wants to write his story and can convince Stevens to give him a free hand in this regard. The reporter considered contrasting Joan's life with that of an ordinary saleswoman in her grandfather's department store, Cyrus Butterfield.

Meanwhile, Joan meets the kind-hearted Peggy O'Brien at a machine, who has difficulties with the manager of the restaurant, who only appears friendlier when the well-dressed Joan intervenes. The young women understand each other equally and become friends. Peggy, assuming that Joan is looking for a job, takes her to her apartment and also promises to find her a job at the Butterfield department store, where she works as a saleswoman. Joan sees this as an opportunity and poses as Joan Baker so that no one finds out who she really is. She enjoys her new life in freedom, even if everyday situations such as cooking or the like are a challenge for the spoiled heiress.

When Bill meets Joan in the department store, he recognizes her straight away, but hopes for an exciting story and follows the young woman unobtrusively. Gradually, the two of them become friends without Joan knowing that Bill knows her secret. The closer he gets to know the young woman, the more he likes her and without his wanting to, he falls in love with Joan. One day when Joan leaves her precious watch in the ladies' room, it is found by Dorothy Moore, a disapproving employee who discovers the inscription "For Joan Butterfield - by Gramps", realizing Joan's true identity. Dorothy goes to Butterfield because she expects something from her betrayal. Peggy, however, helps the friend, although she cannot really understand why she prefers the life of a simple saleswoman to her own. Peggy turns to Bill for help, who has a small fisherman's house on an island about 25 miles from New York, where he and Joan flee. That night they both realize that they love each other.

Bill calls Stevens and asks him to stop the story about Joan, which he assures him. The next morning the reporter secretly goes to New York to buy some groceries and a marriage license. In his editorial office, he tears his story into small pieces and throws them away. As soon as he left, however, Stevens asks his staff to glue the story back together. Before Bill reaches his island again, the story is already in the newspaper exclusively, it is also written there that he has a secret romance with the Butterfield heiress. Joan's grandfather takes a speed boat to the island and presents Joan the story, which has been published under Bill's name. When Bill arrives, everything is already too late, Joan is so hurt that she leaves him without saying another word.

Meanwhile, Peggy and her friend, the chiropractor Penny E. Pennypepper, are considering how to bring the couple back together. They decide to send one telegram from Bill to Joan and one from Joan to Bill and ask for a discussion on the island. At first it looks like this will go wrong, but then a thunderstorm with a strong clap of thunder causes Joan to flee fearfully into Bill's arms, who will not let go of her. All misunderstandings are cleared up and in the end there is a wedding on the island.

background

Filming began in late June and ended at the end of July 1938. The film premiered in the United States on October 13, 1938 in New York and was generally in theaters on October 14. In Austria the film was released in 1949 under the title Farewell to my heart . In Germany it was premiered on March 22, 1992 on Sat. 1 on television.

This film was the first full-length feature film to be completed by Hal Roach Studios for United Artists . A number of movie reviews have criticized Harry Langdon, one of the most famous comedians in the silent film, only having such a brief appearance in this film. The Hollywood Reporter mentioned that the heiress Barbara Hutton , then known as "the richest girl in the world", may have served as inspiration for the role of the department store heiress .

In the mid-1930s, Fredric March was one of the busiest and most successful Hollywood stars and was free to choose who to work with. There Goes My Heart was the first film Roach made for United Artists. Virginia Bruce, who got a leading role here, had previously been seen in supporting roles as "the other woman" because it was felt that her cool demeanor was more suitable for such roles. It was generally believed that the excellence in the film was more of seasoned character actors such as Eugene Palette (Editor Stevens), Patsy Kelly (Peggy O'Brien) and Claude Gillingwater as an overbearing grandfather. Also noteworthy are the inimitable Marjorie Main in a supporting role as a customer and Robert Armstrong, famous from the film King Kong, in a small role as a detective. Nancy Carroll, who plays the resentful saleswoman Dorothy Moore, was one of the bigger stars in the period before, but from 1938 her career stalled without anyone helping her to revive it. Photoplay noted, "Nancy Carroll is returning to the screen, but she is not coming back." Carroll made only one more film after this film.

Reviews

The lexicon of international films was of the opinion: "Well-cast supporting roles and a few comedic highlights cannot compensate for the not very original story and pale leading actors."

Photoplay magazine praised Patsy Kelly's performance, adding, "If you're a screwball comedy fanatic, you will likely enjoy the film." Howard Barnes' review in the New York Herald Tribune was rather lukewarm: "The plot structure remains familiar but weak , there is enough casual nonsense to keep your mind awake. The clowning seems to be random, but is usually refreshing. ”[…] There would definitely be enough reason to watch the film.

Awards

At the Academy Awards in 1939 , Marvin Hatley was nominated for an Oscar in the category "Best Adapted Film Music" , but it went to Alfred Newman and the film Alexander's Ragtime Band .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ There Goes My Heart at TCM - Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ a b There Goes My Heart at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (article + review). Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  3. ↑ Millionaire on the wrong track. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film Service , accessed February 22, 2013 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used