Wanderlust (1935)
"Mary Jane's Pa" (original title)

Sam Preston is a small-town newspaper publisher who suffers from wanderlust. Leaving his family (wife Ellen, two daughters and a son,) he thinks well-provided for, he packs a suitcase and ... See full summary »

Director:

William Keighley

Writers:

Tom Reed (screenplay), Peter Milne (screenplay),

Stars:

Aline MacMahon, Guy Kibbee, Tom Brown

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Aline MacMahon	...	Ellen Preston
Guy Kibbee	...	Sam Preston
Tom Brown	...	King Wagner
Robert McWade	...	John Wagner
Minor Watson	...	Kenneth Marvin
Nan Grey	...	Lucille Preston
John Arledge	...	Linc Overman (as Johnny Arledge)
Robert Light	...	Fred
Betty Jean Hainey	...	Mary Jane Preston
Oscar Apfel	...	Chief Bailey
DeWitt Jennings	...	Sheriff
Carl Stockdale	...	Gene
Louis Mason	...	Jones
Jack Kennedy	...	Watchman

Storyline

Sam Preston is a small-town newspaper publisher who suffers from wanderlust. Leaving his family (wife Ellen, two daughters and a son,) he thinks well-provided for, he packs a suitcase and hits the road. Ten years later he comes back to find the newspaper shuttered and his family gone. He wanders from town to town searching for them and, finally, comes upon a little lost girl named Mary James, takes her to her home, and discovers she is his youngest daughter. Ellen is now running another newspaper, and is interested in politics...and another man. But after he pleads to remain with his children, she allows him to stay incognito as a housekeeper. Then, the town gossips go to work.

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Plot Keywords:

newspaper | wanderlust | incognito | small town | newspaper publisher | 

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Taglines:

They Set a New High in Howls! (original poster)

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 April 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

Wanderlust

Company Credits

Production Co:

First National Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Edith Ellis Furness's play opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 3 December 1908 and closed on 27 February 1909 after 120 performances.

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Connections

Remake of Mary Jane's Pa (1917)

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Soundtracks

"Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet"
(1909) (uncredited)
Music by Percy Wenrich
Played during the hamburger scene at the carnival

User Reviews

Warner B

This one is another fast and fun example of Warner's B work in this period, timing in at 75 minutes, with the usual cast of supporting actors talking fast to get the words out. Guy Kibbee plays... well, a typical Guy Kibbee role, except he's not a dolt this time, and it's Aline McMahon, usually cast in the pre-codes as the gal who's seen it all and shows it, who plays his love interest -- he's a pressman whose wanderlust made him leave his family and head out over the world ten years before. Now he's back and trying to woo his wife.

Of course the plot is not that simple. There's a bit of a political scandal in town and the rapprochement that's the heart of the story weaves its way in and out of that.

There are the usual fine, now-forgotten supporting actors in this piece. Nan Gey, playing the elder daughter, is cute as a button, and Oscar Apfel, who taught Demille how to direct a movie, has for him a sizable role. It's not a great movie, but there is some real chemistry between Kibbee and McMahon. Definitely worth a look.