Many Happy Returns (1934)

Gracie Allen assumes the "management" of the shop owned by her papa Horatio Allen, turning it into a radio station and then an aviary---with the usual Gracie Allen logic---while distracted ... See full summary »

Director:

Norman Z. McLeod

Writers:

Claude Binyon (screenplay), Lady Mary Cameron (story),

Stars:

Gracie Allen, George Burns, George Barbier

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gracie Allen	...	Gracie
George Burns	...	Burns
George Barbier	...	Horatio Allen
Joan Marsh	...	Florence Allen
Ray Milland	...	Ted Lambert
Stanley Fields	...	Joe
John Kelly	...	Mike
William Demarest	...	Brinker
Johnny Arthur	...	Davis (as John Arthur)
Franklin Pangborn	...	Allen's Secretary
Egon Brecher	...	Dr. Otto von Strudel
Jack Mulhall	...	Actor
Morgan Wallace	...	Nathan Silas
Kenneth Thomson	...	Motion Picture Director
Guy Lombardo	...	Guy Lombardo

Storyline

Gracie Allen assumes the "management" of the shop owned by her papa Horatio Allen, turning it into a radio station and then an aviary---with the usual Gracie Allen logic---while distracted Papa is trying to get younger daughter, beauty contest winner Florence, married before she can head to Hollywood and get into the movies. The story moves to Hollywood, where, with Gracie around, kidnappers get kidnapped and the chatter between her and George Burns even takes a few satirized shots at Filmland, in addition to their usual unusual routines. Guy Lombardo, top-billed on the ads and posters with Burns and Allen but not the cast listings, and dance team Frank Veloz and Yolanda, fill in where needed between the cracks of the mostly on-the-fly plot, and they don't seem to be taking their gigs all that seriously either. Burns & Allen Radio fans, the few of us that still remember "Radio", will love it,while others are likely to give it a "say what" or 'duh", especially if they were raised on ...

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Plot Keywords:

hollywood | daughter

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 June 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

Muitas Felicidades

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

64 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.

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Soundtracks

"The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven"
(uncredited)
Music by Carmen Lombardo
Lyrics by Cliff Friend
Copyright 1934 by Paramount Productions Music Corporation

User Reviews

Poor Burns & Allen vehicle

I am a fan of Burns & Allen.I am old enough to remember their television series being shown on BBC in the 50s.I think that they are a funny team even if it is a bit one joke all the time.I believe that they were less well served by their films and unfortunately this film proves that point.Unfortunately the antics of Gracie in this film are unfunny and over the top.I think that if i hear her shout "Georgieporgie" at Burns one more time i will put my fist through the screen.Interestingly they are not top billed this dubious honour belongs to Guy Lombardo and His Orchestra.So if you are a fan of this duo i would say ,give this one a miss.