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 (2)
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
![George Chandler](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/157/948/157948792_6060c4.jpg)
George Chandler
USA
Best movies:
Griffin and Phoenix: A Love Story (1976) (TV movie)
Edison, the Man (1940)
The Name of the Game (1968) (series)
![Maxine Doyle](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/126/158126118_98ac57.jpg)
Maxine Doyle
USA
Best movies:
Dames (1934)
Footlight Parade (1933)
![Busby Berkeley](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/270/270235_1eabc9.jpg)
Busby Berkeley
USA
Best movies:
Footlight Parade (1933)
Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
![Patricia Farr](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/726/159726595_3964e7.jpg)
Patricia Farr
USA
Best movies:
This Gun for Hire (1942)
Footlight Parade (1933)
What Price Hollywood? (1932)
![Mary Gordon](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/712/158712161_95d5f1.jpg)
Mary Gordon
UK
Best movies:
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
After the Thin Man (1936)
It Started with Eve (1941)
![Fred Kelsey](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/440/159440935_32eef6.jpg)
Fred Kelsey
USA
Best movies:
Mildred Pierce (1945)
Storm Warning (1951)
Love Is News (1937)
![Jimmy Conlin](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/478/159478804_97fe53.jpg)
Jimmy Conlin
USA
Best movies:
Edison, the Man (1940)
Captains Courageous (1937)
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
![Charles C. Wilson](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/934/159934024_423dfb.jpg)
Charles C. Wilson
USA
Best movies:
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
The Roaring Twenties (1939)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
![Hobart Cavanaugh](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/053/160053811_60940b.jpg)
Hobart Cavanaugh
USA
Best movies:
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)
Captain Blood (1935)
The House of Fear (1945)
William Irving
German Empire
Best movies:
The Great Dictator (1940)
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
The Cameraman (1928)
![William V. Mong](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/356/160356313_8cf877.jpg)
William V. Mong
USA
Best movies:
The Last of the Mohicans (1936)
The Big Trail (1930)
The Sign of the Cross (1932)
![Eleanore Bayley](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/388/160388613_9d278b.jpg)
Eleanore Bayley
USA
Best movies:
The Gay Divorcee (1934)
The Harvey Girls (1946)
Dames (1934)
![Otto Fries](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/648/160648320_20c526.jpg)
Otto Fries
USA
Best movies:
A Night at the Opera (1935)
Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938)
The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)
![Monica Bannister](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/878/160878235_3ded43.jpg)
Monica Bannister
Canada
Best movies:
The Flying Deuces (1939)
The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
Dames (1934)
![Leila McIntyre](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/998/160998249_31029c.jpg)
Leila McIntyre
USA
Best movies:
City Lights (1931)
The Plainsman (1936)
Fallen Angel (1945)
Harry Seymour
USA
Best movies:
North by Northwest (1959)
Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
Action in the North Atlantic (1943)
![Lee Moran](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/346/160346727_61de75.jpg)
Lee Moran
USA
Best movies:
Footlight Parade (1933)
The Death Kiss (1932)
The Racket (1928)
Marlo Dwyer
USA
Best movies:
Caged (1950)
Footlight Parade (1933)
Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
Louise Carter
USA
Best movies:
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
Gone with the Wind (1939)
Trouble in Paradise (1932)
Victoria Vinton
USA
Best movies:
Strike Up the Band (1940)
Bullets or Ballots (1936)
Dames (1934)