The Phantom Broadcast (1933)

A handsome radio singer has it all--fame, money, adoring fans--but what no one knows is that his accompanist, a hunchbacked piano player, is actually the voice behind the arrogant, abusive ... See full summary »

Director:

Phil Rosen

Writers:

Tristram Tupper (screenplay), Tristram Tupper (story)

Stars:

Ralph Forbes, Vivienne Osborne, Arnold Gray

Cast

Cast overview:
Ralph Forbes	...	Norman Wilder
Vivienne Osborne	...	Elsa Evans
Arnold Gray	...	Grant Murdock
Gail Patrick	...	Laura Hamilton
Paul Page	...	Dr. Robert Brooks
Pauline Garon	...	Nancy
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams	...	Sandy Higgins (as Big Boy Williams)
Rockliffe Fellowes	...	Joe Maestro
Harland Tucker	...	Program Manager (as Harlan Tucker)
Carl Miller	...	Lefty
Mary MacLaren	...	Beth
George Nash	...	Artist
Althea Henley	...	Model
George 'Gabby' Hayes	...	Police Lieutenant (as George Hayes)

Storyline

A handsome radio singer has it all--fame, money, adoring fans--but what no one knows is that his accompanist, a hunchbacked piano player, is actually the voice behind the arrogant, abusive "singer"'s fame. The two men fall for the same girl, and when the singer turns up dead, suspicion falls upon his assistant and the girl.

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Plot Keywords:

singer | piano | radio | money | fame | 

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Genres:

Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 March 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

False Fronts

Company Credits

Production Co:

W.T. Lackey Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Balsley and Phillips Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Right after Murdock and Wilder have an argument, Murdock leaves the apartment in a huff. Immediately after, cab driver Sandy enters by a different door and states that he just passed Murdock in the hall and that he was in a hurry. However, it appears they would both have been going in different directions.

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Soundtracks

"Out Where the Moonbeams Greet the Morning"
Music by Norman Spencer and Bernard B. Brown (as Bernard Brown)
Lyrics by George Waggner

User Reviews

Intriguing Idea; Lots of Flaws

The premise is interesting but really stretches the imagination. The story involves a deformed man who becomes the voice for a 1930's style crooner. The two of them have a symbiotic relationship; they need each other. However, the crooner needs the manager/songster much more because without him, he is nothing. The fact that no one ever gets wise is the first flaw. It's just too much. The second is that the abused man continues to function in the face of all the nasty remarks and putdowns. Enter a beautiful young woman singer who is seeking a manager and has great sympathy for the deformed man. A murder is committed and everyone clams up. So many of these movies depend on someone refusing to talk, even when they have nothing to lose. When a murder is committed, the accused acts in a totally irrational way, thinking a young woman is going to be blamed. But there is no reason to do this. He has a witness and she has no motive. Anyway, it's not very tight, and while it has its moments, it kind of fizzles.