The Big Broadcast of 1938

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Movie
Original title The Big Broadcast of 1938
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1938
length 91 minutes
Rod
Director Mitchell Leisen
script Walter DeLeon ,
Francis Martin ,
Ken Englund
production Harlan Thompson
music Gordon Jenkins ,
John Leipold ,
George Parrish ,
Victor Young
camera Harry Fischbeck
cut Chandler House ,
Eda Warren
occupation

The Big Broadcast of 1938 is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Mitchell Leisen with WC Fields in a double role. The script was based on a story by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan, which was adapted for the script by Russel Crouse and Howard Lindsay .

action

Radio announcer Buzz Fielding ends up in jail after stopping alimony payments to his three ex-wives. His friend Dorothy Wyndham has given him bail so that he can board the SS Gigantic with her . The Gigantic will race against the rival SS Colossal from New York to Cherbourg.

T. Frothingill Bellows, owner of the Gigantic , buys his clumsy brother SB a ticket for the Colossal in the hope that his brother will cause chaos there. However, SB does not manage to embark on the Colossal . A round of golf stopped him and he accidentally lands on the Gigantic in a small plane . The ship is equipped with a special turbine, but SB manages to damage the turbine with his clumsiness. The Gigantic falls behind the Colossal . While the engineer Bob Hayes tries to repair the turbine, he falls in love with Dorothy. Martha Bellows, daughter of SB, who is rescued from shipwreck after the sinking of her yacht Hesperus V, causes further chaos on board .

In the meantime, Buzz is taking care of the ship's entertainment program and hopes, as well as his three ex-wives, who are also on board, to participate in the prize win. Grace, one of the ex-wives, draws attention to SB who is interfering with Bob in his repair work. Cleo, another ex-wife, revives her love for Buzz. Martha, SB's equally clumsy daughter, falls overboard, is rescued and causes chaos when she is rescued.

Finally, with Buzz's help, the turbine can be put back in place. The Gigantic increases with SB at the helm, driving on and wins by a hair. Buzz and Cleo are a couple again, and Dorothy and Bob are together too.

background

The premiere of the Paramount production took place on February 11, 1938.

For Bob Hope it was the first role in a feature film. Leonid Kinskey and James Craig appeared in small supporting roles . Other musical numbers were performed by the Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad , the orchestra of the New York Metropolitan Opera under the direction of Wilfrid Pelletier and Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm .

The set design for the film was designed by Ernst Fegté and Hans Dreier , the costumes are by Edith Head . Camera effects were created by Gordon Jennings . The film also includes some cartoon scenes produced by Leon Schlesinger . The choreographer of the dance scenes was LeRoy Prinz .

With this film, the Paramount series of big broadcast productions ended . The series, launched in 1932, consisted of five films.

Reviews

Frank S. Nugent of the New York Times was not convinced of the result of the production. He described the film as a mish-mash of loose ends and tatters. Variety, on the other hand, found the film original and charming with an inimitable WC Fields.

Awards

The song Thanks for the Memory , composed by Ralph Rainger (melody) and Leo Robin (lyrics) and sung by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross, won an Oscar for Best Song in 1939 . He also won the 1989 ASCAP Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Frank S. Nugent : 'Big Broadcast of 1938,' at the Paramount . In: The New York Times , March 10, 1938.
  2. ↑ See The Big Broadcast of 1938 . In: Variety , 1938.