The Big Broadcast
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| The Big Broadcast | |
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| File:The Big Broadcast 1932 Poster.jpg
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| Directed by | Frank Tuttle |
| Produced by | Benjamin Glazer (uncredited) |
| Screenplay by | George Marion Jr. |
| Based on | Wild Waves (play) by William Ford Manley |
| Starring | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/> |
| Cinematography | George J. Folsey |
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Production
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| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
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Release dates
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Running time
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80 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Big Broadcast is a 1932 American Pre-Code musical comedy film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Bing Crosby, Stuart Erwin, and Leila Hyams. Based on the play Wild Waves by William Ford Manley, the film is about a radio-singer who becomes a popular hit with audiences, but takes a casual approach to his career. A casual affair leads to his dismissal, but his career is saved by the station manager who buys the station and gives him his job back. The film co-stars George Burns and Gracie Allen in supporting roles. The Big Broadcast was produced by Paramount Pictures and was the first picture in a series of four Big Broadcast movies.[1]
Contents
Plot
Radio-singer Bing Crosby is not very serious about his career. His chronic tardiness and his affair with the notorious Mona Lowe (Sharon Lynn) has become an issue at station WADX. After Mona cheats on him, the despondent singer meets Texas oil man Leslie McWhinney (Stuart Erwin), who has also been wronged by a woman.
Soon after, Anita Rogers (Leila Hyams), the former fiancée of McWhinney, falls in love with Crosby. Meanwhile, station manager George Burns is plagued by the addled conversation of his stenographer, Gracie Allen and eventually loses the radio station. McWhinney buys the station in order to help out Crosby and Anita, whom he still loves. McWhinney comes up with the idea of putting on a "big broadcast" of stars to pull the station out of debt.
Mona returns on the scene and threatens the budding romance between Crosby and Anita, as well as the station's upcoming big broadcast. McWhinney tries to find a phonograph record to replace the absent Crosby, and ends up impersonating Crosby on the air. The singer returns and takes the microphone in mid-song. Crosby, who actually has been feigning irresponsibility to bring McWhinney and Anita together, succeeds both in reuniting the former lovers and in taming Mona.
Reception
It was Bing Crosby's first starring role in a full-length film and generally he got good reviews. "The film is a credit to Crosby as a screen juve possibility, although he has a decidedly dizzy and uncertain role which makes him behave as no human being does."[2] The New York American commented: "Bing Crosby is the star, make no mistake about it. The “Blue of the Night” boy is a picture personality, as he demonstrated in his two-reelers. He has a camera face and a camera presence. Always at ease, he troupes like a veteran."[3] The Hollywood Citizen News had more to say: ".... Bing Crosby croons several attractive songs which seem destined to enjoy wide popularity. For that matter, he needn’t be ashamed of his acting either. Burns and Allen have several good comedy sequences, and Cab Calloway and his orchestra are excellent in one sequence. All the radio stars are heard much as you hear them on the air. The novelty of seeing them may be an attraction. But Tuttle has not relied upon the drawing power of that novelty. He has injected little touches of fantasy, hints of satire, moments of slapstick comedy and a general impression of jolly good humor. He tells you frankly that this picture is not to be taken seriously and I think that most audiences will believe him and thereby enjoy it."[4]
Cast
- Bing Crosby as Himself
- Stuart Erwin as Leslie McWhinney
- Leila Hyams as Anita Rogers
- Sharon Lynn as Mona
- George Burns as Himself
- Gracie Allen as Herself
- George Barbier as Clapsaddle
- Ralph Robertson as Announcer
- Alex Melesh as Animal Man
- Spec O'Donnell as Office Boy
- Anna Chandler as Mrs. Cohen
- Thomas Carrigan as Officer
- The Mills Brothers as Themselves
- Irving Bacon as Prisoner
- The Boswell Sisters as Themselves
- Cab Calloway as Himself
- Leonid Kinskey as Ivan
- Eddie Lang as Himself
- Vincent Lopez & His Orchestra as Themselves
- Dewey Robinson as Basso
- Kate Smith as Herself
- Arthur Tracy as Himself[5]
Production
Filming locations
- Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA (main scenes)
- Paramount Studios, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA[6]
Soundtrack
Introductory sequence (signature tunes): "Where the Blue of the Night" (sung by Bing Crosby]; "When the Moon Comes over the Mountain" (sung by Kate Smith); "Shout, Sister, Shout" (sung by The Boswell Sisters); "Minnie the Moocher" (sung by Cab Calloway); "Goodbye Blues" (sung by The Mills Brothers).
"I Surrender Dear" (snatch only - sung by Bing Crosby)
"Dinah" (sung by Bing Crosby)
"Here Lies Love" (sung by Arthur Tracy)
"I've Got Five Dollars" (snatch only - sung by Bing Crosby)
"Please" (sung by Bing Crosby)
"Tiger Rag" (sung by The Mills Brothers)
"Drummer Man" (Vincent Lopez and His Orchestra)
"Trees" (sung by Donald Novis)
"Crazy People" (Sung by The Boswell Sisters)
"It Was So Beautiful" (sung by Kate Smith)
"Kicking the Gong Around" (sung by Cab Calloway)[7]
Following films in series
References
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