Love Is a Racket (1932)

Jimmy writes the 'Up and Down Broadway' column for the New York Globe, and he is head over heels for Mary. But Mary is more interested in her career and is looking at starring on Broadway ... See full summary »

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers:

Rian James (based on the novel by), Courtney Terrett (adaptation)

Stars:

Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Ann Dvorak, Frances Dee

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.	...	Jimmy Russell
Ann Dvorak	...	Sally Condon
Frances Dee	...	Mary Wodehouse
Lee Tracy	...	Stanley Fiske
Lyle Talbot	...	Eddie Shaw
Warren Hymer	...	Bernie Olds
André Luguet	...	Max Boncour (as Andre Luguet)
Cecil Cunningham	...	Hattie
Terrance Ray	...	Seeley
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William Burress	...	Ollie (scenes deleted)
George Raft	...	Sneaky (scenes deleted)

Storyline

Jimmy writes the 'Up and Down Broadway' column for the New York Globe, and he is head over heels for Mary. But Mary is more interested in her career and is looking at starring on Broadway with the help of Boncour. However, there is a problem with the rubber checks that she has written. When Jimmy tries to see if they will be held until she can pay them, he finds that they were paid in full by Shaw and now he wants Mary to show her appreciation. But no one except Shaw wants Shaw involved with Mary and it could mean trouble for everyone.

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Plot Keywords:

blackmail | practical joker | atlantic city new jersey | gun | gangster | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 June 1932 (USA)

Also Known As:

Such Things Happen

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

First National Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Stanley Fiske: Well I'll be a double-jointed son of a b... Bulgarian acrobat.

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Connections

Alternate-language version of L'athlète incomplet (1932)

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Soundtracks

"Love, You Funny Thing (1932) (uncredited)
Music by Fred E. Ahlert
Played during the opening credits and at the end
Played on a radio in Mary's apartment and in Eddie's apartment
Played as background music often

User Reviews

The title fits the film perfectly

This seedy, downbeat Broadway tale of love, money, ambition, and power makes for an entertaining film. Credit director William Wellman's felicity with the fast-paced Warner Bros style for the no-nonsense, snappy approach. Douglas Fairbanks Jr is very fine as the hardbitten gossip columnist with a fatalistic, romantic side, but Lee Tracy, Ann Dvorak, Frances Dee, Warren Hymer, and, especially, Cecil Cunningham as the conniving Aunt Hattie, do their best to steal the film. And, as this is a pre-code movie, who says a character can't get away with murder?