The 21 Nov 1929 FD announced that independent producer Edward Small would produce two upcoming sound films at the Metropolitan Studios in Hollywood, CA, for his company, Edward Small Productions, Inc., to be released by Columbia Pictures Corp. Production was set to start on the first picture, Clancy in Wall Street, in the following two weeks.
       According to the 14 Dec 1929 Exhibitors Herald-World, the yet-to-be-titled film would star Charles Murray and Lucien Littlefield and be directed by Ted Wilde. Although the picture was said to be a sequel to Murray’s 1927 picture McFadden’s Flats (see entry) with Littlefield playing “Jock McTavish,” Clancy in Wall Street does not appear to be related to the former film, as the character names and storyline are different. The 1 Mar 1930 Motion Picture News review noted similarities to McFadden’s Flats, but did not declare the picture to be a sequel.
       Referring to the picture by its working title, Playing the Market, the 21 Dec 1929 Exhibitors Herald-World production chart indicated a 7 Dec 1929 start date.
       Director Ted Wilde died unexpectedly on 17 Dec 1929, after suffering a paralytic stroke the day before while filming scenes at Metropolitan Studios, as stated in his 25 Dec 1929 Var obituary. Wilde reportedly knew his condition was critical, and asked to be taken home. He died at age forty, just one day after his birthday, and was survived by a wife and child. Edward F. Cline was hired to direct the unfinished scenes, but he refused to accept payment, preferring for Wilde’s widow to receive the full amount.
       The 31 Dec 1929 Hollywood Daily Screen World indicated that filming had recently ended, and the picture would be released as a roadshow attraction. On 22 Feb 1930, Motion Picture News noted a title change to Clancy in Wall Street, and reported that Columbia had “dropped” the handling of the film’s distribution, but independent producer-distributor Nat Levine had taken over the duties. The 1 Mar 1930 Motion Picture News announced that Levine and Edward Small had partnered to form Aristocrat Pictures. Clancy would mark the company’s first release, and plans were in place to produce six “talkers” per year on the states’ rights market. However, the 8 Mar 1930 Exhibitors Herald-World stated that only four films would be produced per year, and listed Aristocrat’s headquarters at 1650 Broadway in New York City.
       The 13 Mar 1930 FD reported the premiere of Clancy in Wall Street would be held on 15 Mar 1930 at the RKO Albee Theatre in Providence, RI. FD items published on 19 Mar 1930 and 27 Mar 1930 indicated that the picture had been sold as states’ rights to territories in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, and California. The New York City opening occurred on 2 May 1930 at the Colony Theatre, according to the 7 May 1930 Var review.
       The 16 Mar 1930 FD deemed the film “a real laugh getter.” Both FD and Var credited the comedic pairing of Murray and Littlefield and the “snappy lines” to the film’s success.