The Big Broadcast of 1938

  • W. C. Fields: T. Frothingill Bellows / S. B. Bellows
  • Dorothy Lamour Dorothy Wyndham
  • Bob Hope: Buzz Fielding
  • Martha Raye Martha Bellows
  • Shirley Ross: Cleo
  • Grace Bradley Grace
  • Leif Erickson: Bob Hayes
  • Virginia Vale: Joan

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

Action

The radio announcer Buzz Fielding ends up in jail after he has stopped alimony payments to his three ex-wives. His girlfriend Dorothy Wyndham deposited for him bail so he with her aboard the SS Gigantic can go. The Gigantic is a race against the rival ship SS Colossal New York unsubscribe to Cherbourg.

T. Frothingill Bellows, owner of the Gigantic, buys his clumsy brother SB a ticket for the Colossal, hoping his brother will take care there for chaos. SB, however, it does not manage to embark on the Colossal. A round of golf stops him and with a small plane he accidentally lands on Gigantic. The ship is equipped with a special turbine, but SB wins in his clumsiness, damaging the turbine. The Gigantic, falling behind the Colossal. While the engineer Bob Hayes tries to repair the turbine, he falls in love with Dorothy. For further chaos on board Martha Bellows, daughter of SB, which is rescued after the sinking of their yacht Hesperus V castaway makes.

Buzz takes care of in the meantime to the entertainment of the ship to himself and his three ex-wives, who are also on board, to participate in the price gains. Grace, one of the ex-wives, directs SB's attention, which hinders Bob at his repair work. Cleo, another ex-wife lets her love for Buzz revive. Martha, the equally clumsy daughter of SB, falls overboard, is rescued and is aimed at their recovery a mess on.

Finally, the turbine can be used with Buzz's help again. The Gigantic takes, with SB at the helm, driving on and wins by a hair. Buzz and Cleo are a couple again, even Dorothy and Bob are together.

Reviews

Frank S. Nugent of the New York Times was not convinced by the result of production. He described the film as a mishmash full of loose ends and scraps.

The Variety, however, found the film original and charming with a good 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, was awarded the 1939 Academy Award for Best Song.

He also won the 1989 ASCAP Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

Background

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

For Bob Hope was the first role in a feature film. In small supporting roles occurred among others Leonid Kinskey and James Craig. Other musical numbers were presented by the Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad, the Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, conducted by Wilfrid Pelletier and Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm.

The film features was taken over by Ernst swept and Hans Dreier, costumes by Edith Head. Camera effects created by Gordon Jennings. The film also includes some cartoon scenes that were produced by Leon Schlesinger. Choreographer of the dance scenes LeRoy Prinz.

With this movie ended the series of Big Broadcast productions of Paramount. The 1932 launched series consisted of five films.

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