Comet over Broadway
(1938)
65 or 69 mins | Melodrama | 3 December 1938
Cast:
Kay Francis, Ian Hunter, John Litel [ More ]Director:
Busby BerkeleyWriters:
Mark Hellinger, Robert BucknerCinematographer:
James Wong HoweEditor:
James GibbonProduction Designer:
Charles NoviProduction Company:
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.The studio used stock footage from Kay Francis' 1935 film I Found Stella Parish. Warner Bros. records indicate that Comet Over Broadway began as an "A" picture, but when directors William Keighley and Edmund Goulding turned it down, the project was shelved. Then Bryan Foy took over the production in the "B" unit. Warner Bros. again shelved plans for production of the film when Bette Davis refused to play the lead. Miriam Hopkins was cast as the lead, but when she became ill, Kay Francis replaced her. Sybil Jason replaced Janet Chapman and John Farrow filled-in for Busby Berkeley while the latter was in the hospital. Screen credits list Faith Baldwin's story as the screenplay source. Studio correspondence, on the other hand, indicates that although the original script was based on Baldwin's story, Foy later abandoned that script and wrote an original story which he entitled Curtain Call, which was also the working title of the film. The producers returned to Baldwin's original title when the film was released. ...
The studio used stock footage from Kay Francis' 1935 film I Found Stella Parish. Warner Bros. records indicate that Comet Over Broadway began as an "A" picture, but when directors William Keighley and Edmund Goulding turned it down, the project was shelved. Then Bryan Foy took over the production in the "B" unit. Warner Bros. again shelved plans for production of the film when Bette Davis refused to play the lead. Miriam Hopkins was cast as the lead, but when she became ill, Kay Francis replaced her. Sybil Jason replaced Janet Chapman and John Farrow filled-in for Busby Berkeley while the latter was in the hospital. Screen credits list Faith Baldwin's story as the screenplay source. Studio correspondence, on the other hand, indicates that although the original script was based on Baldwin's story, Foy later abandoned that script and wrote an original story which he entitled Curtain Call, which was also the working title of the film. The producers returned to Baldwin's original title when the film was released.
While married to Bill Appleton, Eve visits a famous actor in his cottage and is discovered by Bill, who misunderstands Eve's adoration for the performer and, in a fight, accidentally kills him. Bill is sentenced to life imprisonment, and Eve goes into burlesque to support herself and her small daughter, Jackie. Eve's friend, burlesque prima donna Tim Adams, convinces Eve to give Jackie to her so that she can pursue a legitimate stage career on Broadway. Tim rears Jackie as her own, while Eve climbs to stardom and falls in love with theatrical producer Bert Ballin. Eve tries to escape her love for Bert by traveling to London, where she becomes an enormous success. Finally, she confesses to Bert that although she loves him, she has promised to free her husband Bill. With Bert's help, Bill is paroled. Tim tells Jackie who her real mother is in time for the girl to join Eve at the prison gates and await Bill's ...
While married to Bill Appleton, Eve visits a famous actor in his cottage and is discovered by Bill, who misunderstands Eve's adoration for the performer and, in a fight, accidentally kills him. Bill is sentenced to life imprisonment, and Eve goes into burlesque to support herself and her small daughter, Jackie. Eve's friend, burlesque prima donna Tim Adams, convinces Eve to give Jackie to her so that she can pursue a legitimate stage career on Broadway. Tim rears Jackie as her own, while Eve climbs to stardom and falls in love with theatrical producer Bert Ballin. Eve tries to escape her love for Bert by traveling to London, where she becomes an enormous success. Finally, she confesses to Bert that although she loves him, she has promised to free her husband Bill. With Bert's help, Bill is paroled. Tim tells Jackie who her real mother is in time for the girl to join Eve at the prison gates and await Bill's release.
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