The Perfect Gentleman (1935)

65,70 or 73 mins | Comedy-drama | 22 November 1935

Director:

Tim Whelan

Cinematographer:

Charles [G.] Clarke

Editor:

George Boemler

Production Designer:

Cedric Gibbons

Production Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp.
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HISTORY

According to an M-G-M pressbook for this film, Edward Childs Carpenter adapted Cosmo Hamilton's short story as a stage vehicle for Frank Morgan, but the play was never produced. Studio records also indicate that Dave Marx, a former M-G-M property boy, played a small role in this film, as did director Tim Whelan. Whelan took over the part of an usher when he decided to re-shoot a scene after the original player was released. This film marked the American screen debuts of stage actor Richard Waring and actress Cicely Courtneidge, who was borrowed by M-G-M from British-Gaumont in exchange for Madge Evans and Jean Parker. As noted in this film's publicity material, a special set was constructed at M-G-M for the scene in the London music hall where alternating shots of Courtneidge's failing stage performance and the audience's reaction in the gallery were required. The gallery was built on an elevator that could be raised for the theater shots and lowered for other shots, thus allowing the camera to remain fixed at one postion. The balloon dance routine, which featured thirty-six dancers and was rehearsed at the Biltmore Theatre in Los Angeles, proved to be a troublesome affair when the balloons began popping during the rehearsal of the number. The problem was apparently solved by trimming the dancers' fingernails. A HR production chart refers to this film as A Perfect Gentleman and incorrectly lists actor Richard Waring as Robert Waring. Other HR production charts list actors Robin Adair, Earle Hodgins, Claude King, Oscar Radin, Elsa Buchanan and Harry Stubbs in the cast, but their appearance in ...

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According to an M-G-M pressbook for this film, Edward Childs Carpenter adapted Cosmo Hamilton's short story as a stage vehicle for Frank Morgan, but the play was never produced. Studio records also indicate that Dave Marx, a former M-G-M property boy, played a small role in this film, as did director Tim Whelan. Whelan took over the part of an usher when he decided to re-shoot a scene after the original player was released. This film marked the American screen debuts of stage actor Richard Waring and actress Cicely Courtneidge, who was borrowed by M-G-M from British-Gaumont in exchange for Madge Evans and Jean Parker. As noted in this film's publicity material, a special set was constructed at M-G-M for the scene in the London music hall where alternating shots of Courtneidge's failing stage performance and the audience's reaction in the gallery were required. The gallery was built on an elevator that could be raised for the theater shots and lowered for other shots, thus allowing the camera to remain fixed at one postion. The balloon dance routine, which featured thirty-six dancers and was rehearsed at the Biltmore Theatre in Los Angeles, proved to be a troublesome affair when the balloons began popping during the rehearsal of the number. The problem was apparently solved by trimming the dancers' fingernails. A HR production chart refers to this film as A Perfect Gentleman and incorrectly lists actor Richard Waring as Robert Waring. Other HR production charts list actors Robin Adair, Earle Hodgins, Claude King, Oscar Radin, Elsa Buchanan and Harry Stubbs in the cast, but their appearance in the released film has not been confirmed. HR pre-release news items list actors Robert Cory, Ottola Nesmith and Gyles Isham in the cast, but their appearance in the final film has also not been confirmed. According to HR pre-release news items, following a sneak preview in which a trial ending was used, M-G-M decided to shoot another week on the picture and give it a new ending. For this, M-G-M assigned writers Lew Lipton and Leon Gordon to write new comedy sequences. This film was released in Great Britain as The Imperfect Lady.

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SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Daily Variety
30 Nov 1935
p. 3
Film Daily
19 Dec 1935
p. 4
Hollywood Reporter
22 Jul 1935
p. 2
Hollywood Reporter
23 Jul 1935
p. 4
Hollywood Reporter
1 Aug 1935
p. 2
Hollywood Reporter
5 Aug 1935
p. 6
Hollywood Reporter
12 Aug 1935
p. 6
Hollywood Reporter
15 Aug 1935
p. 6
Hollywood Reporter
19 Aug 1935
p. 10
Hollywood Reporter
26 Aug 1935
p. 6
Hollywood Reporter
3 Sep 1935
p. 10
Hollywood Reporter
13 Sep 1935
p. 3
Hollywood Reporter
23 Sep 1935
p. 13
Hollywood Reporter
30 Oct 1935
p. 2
Hollywood Reporter
30 Nov 1935
p. 3
Motion Picture Daily
26 Nov 1935
p. 10
Motion Picture Herald
14 Sep 1935
p. 51
Motion Picture Herald
28 Dec 1935
p. 65
New York Times
19 Dec 1935
p. 33
Variety
25 Dec 1935
p. 15
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTOR
PRODUCER
Prod
WRITERS
Contr wrt
Contr wrt
PHOTOGRAPHY
Charles [G.] Clarke
Photog
ART DIRECTORS
Art dir
Art dir assoc
Art dir assoc
FILM EDITOR
Film ed
COSTUMES
Ward
MUSIC
Mus score
SOUND
Rec dir
DANCE
Dances staged by
PRODUCTION MISC
Script clerk
SOURCES
LITERARY
Based on the unproduced play The Perfect Gentleman by Edward Childs Carpenter (copyrighted 28 Jan 1929), which was based on the short story "The Prodigal Father" by Cosmo Hamilton in The Saturday Evening Post (15 Nov 1924).
LITERARY SOURCE AUTHORS
SONGS
"Pack Up Your Troubles," music by Felix Powell, lyrics by George Asaf; "There's Something in a Big Parade" and "Tillie and the Tight Rope Walker," music by Bronislau Kaper and Walter Jurmann, lyrics by Ned Washington; "Its Only Human," music by Burton Lane, lyrics by Harold Adamson; "Life Is a Song," music by Fred E. Ahlert, lyrics by Joe Young; "The Keys to Heaven," anonymous.
SONGWRITERS/COMPOSERS
+ −
DETAILS
Alternate Titles:
A Perfect Gentleman
The Imperfect Lady
Release Date:
22 November 1935
Production Date:
31 Jul--late Sep 1935
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp.
20 November 1935
LP5998
Physical Properties:
Sound
Western Electric Sound System
Black and White
Duration(in mins):
65,70 or 73
Length(in reels):
8
Country:
United States
PCA No:
1533
Passed by NBR:
Yes
SYNOPSIS

English aristocrat Major Horatio Chatteris, deep in debt and considered by his sister Harriet and son John to be a dissolute squanderer, decides to leave his home and return a reformed man, so that they can be proud of him. The dejected major is blamed for harming John's chances of being appointed to the prosperous parish of Upper Haddington by the Bishop because of his poor reputation, an appointment that John needed in order to pay back money borrowed to settle some of his father's debt. After promising to pay John back when he returns, the major sets out for London on a train, where he meets singer April Maye, who is going to perform at a London music hall for the first time in her life. April tells the major that she must be a great success or else she will become destitute, and the major, sympathetic to her plight, offers to attend her performance to cheer her on. When April gives a terrible performance, however, and the audience gives her the "razz," the major, appalled by the heckling, upbraids the audience and then joins her on the stage to revive her act. The pair become an instant hit after bringing the house down with their rendition of "Pack Up Your Troubles." The major, who has been made a celebrity after giving his story to a London newspaper, is recognized by bill collector Hitch during one of their performances and is pursued by him for the £47 he owes him. Hitch catches up with the major at a restaurant and coerces him into writing a bad check, thus putting him in jeopardy of ...

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English aristocrat Major Horatio Chatteris, deep in debt and considered by his sister Harriet and son John to be a dissolute squanderer, decides to leave his home and return a reformed man, so that they can be proud of him. The dejected major is blamed for harming John's chances of being appointed to the prosperous parish of Upper Haddington by the Bishop because of his poor reputation, an appointment that John needed in order to pay back money borrowed to settle some of his father's debt. After promising to pay John back when he returns, the major sets out for London on a train, where he meets singer April Maye, who is going to perform at a London music hall for the first time in her life. April tells the major that she must be a great success or else she will become destitute, and the major, sympathetic to her plight, offers to attend her performance to cheer her on. When April gives a terrible performance, however, and the audience gives her the "razz," the major, appalled by the heckling, upbraids the audience and then joins her on the stage to revive her act. The pair become an instant hit after bringing the house down with their rendition of "Pack Up Your Troubles." The major, who has been made a celebrity after giving his story to a London newspaper, is recognized by bill collector Hitch during one of their performances and is pursued by him for the £47 he owes him. Hitch catches up with the major at a restaurant and coerces him into writing a bad check, thus putting him in jeopardy of going to prison. April manages to prevent disaster by outwitting Hitch and retrieving the check while doing the rumba with him on the dance floor before he leaves for the bank. At April's suggestion, the major agrees to join her act so that he can make enough money to pay his debt. After completing their first London stint, the major takes April to meet his family, where they attend a society auction to raise money for the parish. When the two decide to take over the auction and invigorate it, the scene quickly turns to bedlam, leaving them at odds with Harriet and the others. The major pays John back the money he promised him, but decides to stop touring with April when he overhears a booking agent request that she perform in a West End revue without him. April, who has fallen in love with the major, is heartbroken when he insists that they split. Once again, the major is forced to leave home when Harriet and the Bishop complain about his unseemly association with theater people. Evelyn, John's softhearted fiancée, refuses to accept the major's exile, convinces John of his sacrifices for them and then goes to find him in London. The major turns up at one of April's performances, where he meets her in her dressing room to ask her if her earlier offer of marriage stills stands. The reunited couple become engaged and win the respect of Evelyn and John.

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Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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The American Film Institute is grateful to Sir Paul Getty KBE and the Sir Paul Getty KBE Estate for their dedication to the art of the moving image and their support for the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and without whose support AFI would not have been able to achieve this historical landmark in this epic scholarly endeavor.