Hats Off
(1936)
65-67 or 70 mins | Musical comedy | 29 November 1936
Cast:
Mae Clarke, John Payne , Helen Lynd [ More ]Director:
Boris PetroffProducer:
Boris PetroffCinematographer:
Harry NeumannEditor:
Thomas NeffProduction Designer:
Danny HallProduction Company:
Grand National Films, Inc.The Three Radio Rogues were Jimmy Hollywood, R. D. Bartell and Henry Taylor. Val and Ernie Stanton were a vaudeville team. MPH credits "75 Grand National gorgeous girls" as appearing in the film. According to DV, the news scenes were filmed at Grand Central Air Terminal in Glendale, CA the weekend of 26 Sep 1936. As reported in DV on 29 Sep 1936, screenwriter Edmund Joseph placed portions of the film in Hempstead because it was his home town. This was Grand National's first musical comedy. Numerous trade articles mention the film's similarities to the recent Texas Centennial celebrated in Dallas/Fort Worth. Two contemporary reviews credit Harold Stern with editing, although Walther Stern is credited as supervising editor on the film. A news item in DV states that a novelty train which appears in musical numbers in the film was used as part of an exploitation stunt that included a "bevy of cuties" accompanying the train in key cities. The train, which consisted of an engine and observation car, reportedly cost $50,000 to build and was purchased by the filmmakers for $10,000. ...
The Three Radio Rogues were Jimmy Hollywood, R. D. Bartell and Henry Taylor. Val and Ernie Stanton were a vaudeville team. MPH credits "75 Grand National gorgeous girls" as appearing in the film. According to DV, the news scenes were filmed at Grand Central Air Terminal in Glendale, CA the weekend of 26 Sep 1936. As reported in DV on 29 Sep 1936, screenwriter Edmund Joseph placed portions of the film in Hempstead because it was his home town. This was Grand National's first musical comedy. Numerous trade articles mention the film's similarities to the recent Texas Centennial celebrated in Dallas/Fort Worth. Two contemporary reviews credit Harold Stern with editing, although Walther Stern is credited as supervising editor on the film. A news item in DV states that a novelty train which appears in musical numbers in the film was used as part of an exploitation stunt that included a "bevy of cuties" accompanying the train in key cities. The train, which consisted of an engine and observation car, reportedly cost $50,000 to build and was purchased by the filmmakers for $10,000.
When twin Texas cities Bradfield and Hempstead compete for business by staging simultaneous expositions, Bradfield's event coordinator, Mr. J. D. Murdock, hires Jo Allen as his press agent to outdo Hempstead's Jimmy Maxwell. Posing as a newly-arrived schoolteacher named Judy, Jo befriends Jimmy in order to learn his exposition secrets, while her friend Mr. Churchill poses as "Jo Allen" at her request. When Jo learns that Jimmy is planning a prizefight for the Hempstead opening and expects 100,000 attendants, she contacts Broadway showman Caesar Rosero, an old friend. To meet Rosero's exorbitant costs, however, Bradfield needs the backing of local oilman Tex Connolly, who spurns the exposition as a mere "carnival." Meanwhile, Jo and Jimmy fall silently in love, and Jimmy, discovering Bradfield's plan to get Rosero to sign a contract, arranges an evening with Tex, hoping to get him to back Rosero's troupe for Hempstead. Although Jo wins Tex's backing, she resigns when Jimmy learns her true identity, because she is unwilling to rival the man she loves. Furious at Jo's duplicity, Jimmy further schemes to get Rosero for Hempstead, until Rosero, seeing that Jo is in love, promises to perform for Hempstead's exposition. On the opening night, Rosero gives Jimmy a ticket for a seat next to Jo, and they are ...
When twin Texas cities Bradfield and Hempstead compete for business by staging simultaneous expositions, Bradfield's event coordinator, Mr. J. D. Murdock, hires Jo Allen as his press agent to outdo Hempstead's Jimmy Maxwell. Posing as a newly-arrived schoolteacher named Judy, Jo befriends Jimmy in order to learn his exposition secrets, while her friend Mr. Churchill poses as "Jo Allen" at her request. When Jo learns that Jimmy is planning a prizefight for the Hempstead opening and expects 100,000 attendants, she contacts Broadway showman Caesar Rosero, an old friend. To meet Rosero's exorbitant costs, however, Bradfield needs the backing of local oilman Tex Connolly, who spurns the exposition as a mere "carnival." Meanwhile, Jo and Jimmy fall silently in love, and Jimmy, discovering Bradfield's plan to get Rosero to sign a contract, arranges an evening with Tex, hoping to get him to back Rosero's troupe for Hempstead. Although Jo wins Tex's backing, she resigns when Jimmy learns her true identity, because she is unwilling to rival the man she loves. Furious at Jo's duplicity, Jimmy further schemes to get Rosero for Hempstead, until Rosero, seeing that Jo is in love, promises to perform for Hempstead's exposition. On the opening night, Rosero gives Jimmy a ticket for a seat next to Jo, and they are reconciled.
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