Twentieth Century (1934)

A flamboyant Broadway impresario who has fallen on hard times tries to get his former lover, now a Hollywood diva, to return and resurrect his failing career.

Director:

Howard Hawks

Writer:

Charles Bruce Millholland (play)

Stars:

John Barrymore, Carole Lombard, Walter Connolly

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Barrymore	...	Oscar Jaffe
Carole Lombard	...	Lily Garland aka Mildred Plotka
Walter Connolly	...	Oliver Webb
Roscoe Karns	...	Owen O'Malley
Ralph Forbes	...	George Smith
Charles Lane	...	Max Jacobs aka Max Mandelbaum (as Charles Levison)
Etienne Girardot	...	Mathew J. Clark
Dale Fuller	...	Sadie
Edgar Kennedy	...	Oscar McGonigle
Billie Seward	...	Anita

Storyline

Broadway director Oscar Jaffe (John Barrymore) is a bigger ham than most actors, but through sheer drive and talent he is able to build a successful career. When one of his discoveries, Lily Garland (Carole Lombard), rises to stardom and heeds the call of Hollywood, Oscar begins a career slide. He hits the skids and seems on his way out, until he chances to meet Lily again, on a train ride aboard the Twentieth Century Limited. Oscar pulls out all the stops to re-sign his former star, but it's a battle... because Lily, who is as temperamental as Oscar is, wants to have nothing to do with her former mentor.

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Plot Keywords:

train | impresario | actress | twentieth century train | lunatic | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

11 May 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

20th Century

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When asked by John Barrymore why he should play the role of Oscar, Howard Hawks replied, "It's the story of the biggest ham on earth and you're the biggest ham I know." Barrymore accepted at once.

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Goofs

When the man kneels in front of Jaffe and calls him Maestro, the position of the man's hands change between shots.

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Quotes

Owen O'Malley: Sadie, get me a bottle of gin. I've only got an hour to live.
Sadie, Lily's maid: I wish that were true.

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Connections

Featured in New York at the Movies (2002)

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Soundtracks

"Happy Days Are Here Again"
(1929)
Music by Milton Ager
Lyrics by Jack Yellen
Sung a cappella by Walter Connolly

User Reviews

One of the best films ever!

This film represents the pinnacle of Hollywood's Golden Age. The dialogue is witty and fast-paced, the acting is perfect, and most of all you will laugh until your sides split! Carol Lombard deserves to be called the queen of comedy, and John Barrymore will surprise you, especially if your only knowledge of him was from Grand Hotel. The supporting cast is great, especially Walter Connolly as Barrymore's much-put-upon associate.