Chatterbox (1936) User Reviews

Life Upon the Wicked Stage

[lugonian · 6/10 · 19 November 2005]

CHATTERBOX (RKO Radio, 1936), directed by George Nichols Jr., is a simple-minded little tale about a naive young teenager's inspiration in fulfilling her dream by becoming a stage actress against the wishes of her grandfather, only to learn the full meaning of life not really imitating art. The teenager in question is Anne Shirley, a young and prominent contract player for RKO Radio whose career specialized in playing such wholesome characters as presented in CHATTERBOX. As much as this sort of characterization might display her to contemporary viewers as a weak sister, she is, in fact, strong-willed without losing her feminine charm.

Inspired by Shirley's early characterization, which began with ANNE OF GREEN GABLES (RKO, 1934), where she was more of a chatterbox than she was in this production, Shirley does bring forth her titled-role in its early stages of the story as a lonely teenager whose only pleasure is constantly talking to anyone who would listen to her. Blending in the elements of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES (1934 - the talkative teenager) with Al Jolson in THE JAZZ SINGER (1927 - going against family authority by doing what she feels she's meant to do, and forbidden to return home) and Katharine Hepburn in MORNING GLORY (1933 - taking her profession so seriously that members of the troupe secretly regard her as goofy), the duration of the story concerns Jenny Yates (Anne Shirley), wanting to carry on the tradition of her deceased mother, an actress many years ago. She hopes to attend the upcoming presentation of the Village Players revival of "Virtue's Reward" (which her mother had appeared) being presented at the Hale Barn Theater. She is forbidden by Uriah, her grandfather (Edward Ellis) who warns her that once she steps out that door, like her mother, it will be locked to her forever. After she does leave home, Uriah has a change of heart and leaves the door unlocked, only to have it closed by their handyman, Michael Arbuckle (George Offerman Jr.) who does it in spite since Jenny knows enough about Michael, ranging from missing articles to the accidental burning of their barn, to get him fired. Jenny does return home only to find the door locked. With no other place to go, she hides inside the rumble seat of a car belonging to Philip Green (Phillips Holmes), a struggling young artist on his way to New York. After he arranges for Jenny in obtaining the lead role in "Virtue's Reward," reality sets in once she steps foot upon that wicked stage.

While Anne Shirley's presence makes the film, she's not in every scene. There are moments when time allows Uriah (Ellis) and Philip Green Sr. (Granville Bates) to brag about their ancestors, but on the whole, there are others in the cast worthy of honorable mention. Erik Rhodes, famous for his comedic Italian characters in two Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musicals (THE GAY Divorcée and TOP HAT), plays it straight as Archie Fisher, director of the theatrical troupe. Then there's Margaret Hamilton, three years before immortalizing herself as the Wicked Witch in THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939), as "Tippy," a sympathetic landlady, once an actress herself, whose one-on-one talk with Jenny about the realities of theatrical life comes across realistically and sincere; and a very young and blonde Lucille Ball, as a temperamental stage actress who wants nothing more than to get her back salary.

CHATTERBOX, a feel good movie that says it all in its brief 68 minutes, is one of many Anne Shirley movies produced during that time to be overlooked and forgotten due to lack of television revivals. Formerly shown on American Movie Classics during its early years during the 1980s to 1993, it can be seen whenever possible on Turner Classic Movies (at one point in time was shown as part of a viewer's request night), and available on video cassette through a private collector. Film buffs, take note: the title, CHATTERBOX, was later used for a 1943 comedy for Republic Studios starring Judy Canova and Joe E. Brown, which can stir up come confusion whenever found in the TV listings. While the premise to CHATTERBOX is basically a story much to the liking of teenage girls, it does win the appeal of others as well. (**1/2)

Lovely Anne Shirley

[utgard14 · 7/10 · 10 December 2013]

Charming film about a country girl named Jenny (Anne Shirley) with big dreams and her head in the clouds. She dreams of following in her late mother's footsteps and becoming a stage actress. Through a series of events she finds her dream actually coming true. At least that's what she thinks, as she's really being used by an unscrupulous producer who knows she's terrible and has cast her in a comedy while poor Jenny thinks she's playing a straight drama.

Anne Shirley is the whole show here. She has some good support from the likes of Edward Ellis, Erik Rhodes, Phillips Holmes, and Margaret Hamilton (in one of her more approachable roles). Oh and Lucille Ball (with platinum blonde hair!) has a small but amusing part. But Anne Shirley is the star in every sense of the word. She's such a treat to watch. Her sensitive, lovable performance carries the movie. Her portrayal of Jenny Yates is one of the more endearing characterizations I've ever seen on film. It's impossible not to like this girl and still have a heart. It's a very pleasant, enjoyable film with some nice comedic touches and a little bit of romance too. Strays off course slightly at the climax but it ends well. Give it a shot and I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

The Changing Tastes Of The Public

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 14 May 2010]

Chatterbox is a really innocent film that could actually use an update today in the sense that some things that were done in the Thirties might seem as camp to us now as Anne Shirley's mother's favorite role from the Victorian Age.

Anne Shirley a devoted daughter to her late mother who was a prominent stage actress during the Victorian Era dreams of success on the stage much to the dismay of her down to earth father Edward Ellis. He wishes she'd just settle down and marry a responsible young man which doesn't include their farm hand George Offerman or Phillips Holmes, a rich kid who'd rather paint than make money. Holmes is as much a trial to his father Granville Bates as Shirley is to Ellis.

Anyway when a small theater company wants to revive the play, Anne eagerly wants the part and gets it of course on the strength of her name. But with changing public taste what was great Victorian melodrama back in the day is now high camp and played absolutely straight might bring down the house.

We hear about many of the stage legends of the past and the names come down to us, but you never see the works revived because public tastes have changed. With film you can measure the changing tastes of the public and when reviewing items for this forum you always have to try and watch it through the eyes of the public of the time as well as through your own. Sometimes films are hopelessly dated and you must say so.

However Chatterbox is an interesting film because it deals with the phenomenon of changing public tastes in a gentle manner. I daresay it could be remade today and some of the work that was done on the stage then would be camp today.

Not everything lasts forever.

A good little movie that could have been more

[lionel-libson-1 · 17 May 2010]

Once in a while a film shows up on TCM that is a small gem from the past. "Chatterbox" is just such a film. Set mostly in a small town, it stars Anne Shirley, little-known today, an actress who gave up a career in film while in her twenties. She lives in a mind-world of the late 1800's, a world of genteel manners, romantic writing, and little sense of irony. Her mother had been a noted actress and Shirley aspired to the same. The charm of the film lies in its detailed portrayal of small-town America. There is an honesty in the dialogue and behavior.

Without divulging too much plot, I must add that the revelation was Erik Rhodes, the pencil-mustachioed, gigolo of Astaire-Rogers movies, here, sans moustache,and Italian accent, a Broadway wise guy director.Throw in a very young and very blonde Lucille Ball and you have a diverting entertainment. The scene of Shirley's stage performance is wonderful.

Look for this film as a memento of an earlier, more innocent age.

Anne Shirley in the title role of this B comedy drama

[jacobs-greenwood · 6/10 · 18 December 2016]

Directed by George Nicholls Jr., with a screenplay by Sam Mintz based on a story by David Carb, this B movie comedy drama features Anne Shirley in the title role, as Jenny Yates, a simple Vermont country girl who's always dreamt of being a stage actress. Her mother had been one 20 years earlier, playing a part on stage in "Virtue's Reward". Ironically, a New York acting company has been perfecting this very same play in Jenny's sleeping little town, working out the kinks, before taking it to the Big Apple.

But Jenny's mum had effectively run away from home and been banished never to return by her father Uriah Lowell (Edward Ellis) for wanting to pursue an acting career. Now Jenny lives a rather sheltered life with the same man, her grandfather, and a young farmhand named Michael Arbuckle (George Offerman Jr.), who tattles on her. She's learned everything 'knows' about etiquette, proper behavior, and acting (!) from an Emily Post-Farmer's Almanac type book, which is to say she's very naive, uninformed, and a ham actress at best.

Jenny meets Philip Greene Jr. (Phillips Holmes) outside the barn that's being used as the playhouse for the New York company's production. Phil is a stand-in actor who's been helping out his friend, the play's director Archie Fisher (Erik Rhodes); since Phil is a wannabe painter, the Vermont countryside has provided him with an opportunity to paint trees etc.. Phil also happens to be the son of a wealthy man who doesn't want to follow in his father's footsteps, or work in the family business.

Jenny interrupts Phil while he's working on one of his paintings and effectively tells him (and 'us') her whole life's story. He's polite but otherwise (at least, initially) uninterested; he excuses himself after a while but not before offering to leave a ticker for her at the box office so that she might see the play that evening. When Jenny returns home, her stern grandfather, who'd learned about the play through a flier in his newspaper, cautions her to stay away from the playhouse and, after some discussion, warns her that if she goes to the show, she'll find herself locked out forever (e.g. just like her mother had been).

Of course, Jenny can't resist sneaking out of the house to see the play her mother had once starred in, but she's surprised to find that "Virtue's Reward" is not that evening's production. A fellow patron whispers something about an ill actress; earlier, director Fisher's lead actress, a sophisticated urbanite named Lillian Temple (Lucille Ball), had complained about not being paid.

Disappointed, Jenny walks out and returns home to find the door has been latched; she'd thought her grandfather was keeping his word, but he'd actually had a change of heart and Michael had locked the door out of revenge for an earlier disagreement they'd had. Driving back home, Phil discovers that Jenny is a stowaway in the trunk of his automobile. A starving artist without enough gas to drive her back again, he reluctantly agrees to take her on to New York with him. Encouraged by Jenny's enthusiasm for acting and his understanding landlord Emily 'Tippie' Tipton (Margaret Hamilton), Phil writes a letter of introduction for Jenny to Archie Fisher; his letter really asks him to let her down easy.

When Jenny arrives at the theater with Phil's letter in hand, she ends up ham acting several parts of "Virtue's Reward" in the waiting room, charming the stage manager and veteran actors in attendance who are polite enough not to laugh at her. Fisher sees the performance and decides that Jenny is a perfect replacement for Lillian because, unbeknownst only to Jenny, the revival of "Virtue's Reward" is a campy burlesque show. Fisher threatens to fire anyone who laughs at Jenny's acting and forbids them from telling her the truth about the production.

Phil is surprised to learn that his friend has hired Jenny, learns that the joke's on her, but can't bring himself to tell her because of how happy and grateful she is. Tippie can't do it either. Meanwhile, Uriah, who's been trying to find his granddaughter, has tracked her to New York and the offices of Philip Greene Sr. (Granville Bates). The two old codgers get along famously, drinking expensive liquor and smoking cigars while they try to out B.S. each other about their family's legacies (bragging about involvement with Paul Revere and the signing of the U.S. Constitution!).

Both Uriah and Greene Sr. eventually arrive at Tipton's boarding house where they learn about Jenny from Tippie and Phil, who was (debatably) on his way to opening night. Naturally Jenny plays her part straight and the audience erupts in laughter, bringing tears to her eyes. Phil rushes to her dressing room where he tries to console her, but she throws him out with the older men look on. However, driving home with her understanding grandfather, Jenny hears a noise when the car goes over a bump. Uriah stops the car and they discover that Phil has stowed away in the trunk.

It seems Phil really does care for Jenny and that a happy ending, with the two of them getting together, is the film's conclusion.

One of Anne Shirley's better films.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 29 June 2017]

Jenny Yates lives with her grandfather because her mother died some time ago. However, she holds some resentment towards her grandfather because he essentially tossed the mother out of the house after she left to try to become an actress. Now, many years later, Jenny has a chance to leave home to act in the same play that her mother starred in...and although her grandfather is gruff and grumpy about this, he's not about to disown her like he did his daughter...by Jenny doesn't know this. So, she takes a giant leap and joins a traveling company of actors...and finds out it's not all it's cracked up to be.

Apart from seeing one of the theater company members in black-face, this is a very good film...enjoyable and with a few fun moments. This is a good showcase for Miss Shirley...one of her better films of the 1930s.

see it for the big names, not for the story

[ksf-2 · 6/10 · 3 July 2017]

Some big names in "Chatterbox" - Anne Shirley is Jenny, trying to get away from an impossible situation. Lucy is in here as a very blond "Lillian Temple", in one of her earlier, credited roles. Margaret Hamilton (Wizard of OZ !) is "Tippy", the kindly landlady. Erik Rhodes, who made those fun, silly, films with Gene Raymond and Ann Sothern, is here, speaking in his own, regular voice. I think this is the first time I have heard him speak without using a silly, out-landish accent. Rhodes is "Fisher", directing the group of actors in which Jenny so badly wants to act. What Jenny doesn't realize is that she is the comedic part of a show she has always taken seriously, since her mother was in it years ago. It's fun to see the big names in this one, but the story itself is pretty lame... like the episode (every episode) of "Threes Company" where things could have been cleared up SO much earlier if any one of ten people had said one simple thing. anyhoo. It's okay. Nothing too special. Directed by George Nichols... died quite young (42) after a car crash.

She Talks Too Much

[wes-connors · 5/10 · 15 December 2013]

Talkative small-town teenager Anne Shirley (as Jenny Yates) wants to follow in her deceased mother's footsteps and become an actress. Her other desire is for handsome painter Phillips Holmes (as Philip "Phil" Greene Jr.). Grandfather and guardian Edward Ellis (as Uriah Lowell) forbids Ms. Shirley to even attend local plays. He doesn't want her anywhere near the stage. Given a difficult time by young farm hand George Offerman Jr. (as Michael Arbuckle), Shirley is locked out of the house and decides she's not wanted. Conveniently, Mr. Holmes is driving off to live in New York City and make his fortune. He also seems eager to get away from "Chatterbox" Shirley. She stows away in Holmes trunk and joins him at a boarding house run by motherly Margaret Hamilton (as Emily "Tippie" Tipton). Shirley gets a part in "Virtue's Reward", the revival of a play which once starred her mother...

All seems to be going well, but the "melodrama of the gay nineties" isn't the play Shirley is expecting. She doesn't know it, but director Erik Rhodes (as Archie Fisher) has turned her mother's melodrama into a burlesque. Whatever she's playing, Shirley is cute and endearing. She talks too much, but has a very pleasant sounding voice. Shirley's strong supporting cast includes platinum blonde Lucille Ball (as Lillian Temple), who is featured in a few scenes. It's fun to watch Ms. Ball spitting out her lines like young 1930s versions of Bette Davis and Carole Lombard. The film would have been improved by a final look at Mr. Offerman Jr., who is only spoken about after his memorable opening scenes. Since we aren't told what happened to Holmes automobile, the ending might have been better off building on Shirley's romantic prospects – a look at her first kiss would have been welcome.

***** Chatterbox (1/17/36) George Nicholls Jr. ~ Anne Shirley, Phillips Holmes, Edward Ellis, Lucille Ball

So chatty that Joe Jones even may have written a song about her!

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 5 September 2018]

When I watched this movie for the first time in over a decade, I instantly thought of that 1960 classic "You Talk too Much" which describes someone who never shuts up and never listens. Even when they do listen, they are hearing only what they want to hear, and in Anne Shirley's case, what she hears is not anything close to what anybody (her grandfather, a worried suitor, her New York landlady) are trying to tell her. Basically, she's a country bumpkin, a stage struck young lady who is living through the legend of her late mother, once an actress, who appeared in a hoary old melodrama back in Boston that some New York producers are now reviving as a burlesque. By chance, she's cast in the same part that her mother played, but when young painter Phillips Holmes (whose car trunk she smuggled herself to New York in) tries to tell her that the role she's taking seriously is now being played for laughs, Shirley only hears his affections for her. Holmes sends in their no-nonsense landlady (a delightful Margaret Hamilton) who gets a bit closer to revealing the truth, but still Shirley's mind is closed. When her very strict grandfather Edward Ellis arrives just in time for opening night (by accident), all is revealed for the heartbroken Shirley, and hopefully this will give her more incentive to listen to every word when people are speaking to her!

The film starts off in Shirley's small hometown where the play is in rehearsal with a very young Lucille Ball in that part. Shirley is having a feud with her grandfather's rascally hired hand (George Offerman Jr.) who locks her out after Ellis threatens to do the same (but changes his mind) if she leaves to go see the play. It is this sequence that leads to her to stowing away in Holmes' car. In a sense, it's nothing but a variation of Anne Shirley's character in "Anne of Green Gables" (with a different name) with Shirley just as stubborn and determined, yet likable in spite of her constant jabbering and inability to hear the serious message of what everybody is trying to tell her. I just wonder where in New York when this was set would they burlesque an old play like the one here, and realized perhaps way Off Broadway on 14th Street where many old burlesques were before being shut down. This one wouldn't get shut down because it's one of those old gaslight plays that hasn't played anywhere probably since the 1940's, but there's a brief bit of blackface in it that seems straight out of a minstrel show that might raise some eyebrows. It's nice, however, to see the always wonderful Margaret Hamilton in a major part, and one where she is seen holding a broom where her character doesn't seem like someone who might end up flying on it.

This is a good movie

[mglaser4260056 · 8/10 · 4 September 2005]

A Good movie with a good cast. Anne Shirley is one of those forgotten actresses of the 1930's and people should take a second look at what she has done. The Chatterbox is a "B" movie but it still should be put on DVD so new generations can see these wonderful performances.

I do not want to write anything that would spoil someone's interest in wanting to see this movie. I would recommend this movie to movie goers who are not happy these days with what Hollywood is producing. The older movies are classics and be available to a hungry movie fan wanting good entertainment.

So check on the Internet and look up these wonderful movies and if it is not available make a request of either TCM to show it or find out which studio produced it and see if it will becoming out on DVD anytime soon.

trying to be adorable

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 22 September 2020]

Aspiring actress Jenny Yates (Anne Shirley) wants to follow in her late actress mother's footsteps. The chatty teen lives with her grumpy grandfather who keeps her away from acting. She befriends frustrated painter Phil Greene, Jr. who invites her to a theatrical performance. She is forbidden to attend but she sneaks out anyways.

The difference between adorable and trying to be adorable is that the trying makes it annoyingly cloying. Anne Shirley always seems to be trying and she always looks older. Both of which makes her less adorable and more fake. I'm not angry at it but it's not a good look.

A sweet movie, excellent talent

[dnordenbrock · 8/10 · 1 January 2006]

This is an endearing movie of times gone by. Nice performances by Anne Shirley and Margaret Hamilton. Jenny wants to live out her dreams by acting in a part in a play her mother had played in previously. Her dreams are innocent and naive, and she is taken advantage of by shallow theater types who mislead her. She takes a hard lesson on real life in the theater and who to trust. Anne Shirley shows her talent in a challenging role. This movie is also interesting for the actors in it that one would not expect or show their talents as character actors -- Margaret Hamilton and Lucille Ball. This movie is not for everyone, but is likely to be well appreciated by those who cherish days when movies highlighted innocence and virtue.

Fun Little Gem with Familiar Cast

[WeatherViolet · 8/10 · 27 April 2009]

This is a nice little Anne Shirley gem, but also a fine showcase for Phillips Holmes, as well as a fine supporting cast.

Anne plays an orphaned country girl, whose late mother had been a stage actress, who bequeathed a volume of readings, long inseparable from Jenny (Anne).

Jenny stays on the farm with her widowed grandfather (Edward Ellis), stern but just to Jenny and his hired hand, Michael Arbuckle (George Offerman Jr.), who does something naughty, which Jenny discovers, and so they vow to keep their secrets from the grandfather. Her secret, of course, is that she wanders through the woods rehearsing monologue from the volume, at the expense of her chores.

But then in the woods, Jenny encounters the handsome Philip 'Phil' Greene Jr. (Phillips Holmes), an artist creating his canvas, whom she mistakes for an actor in Archie Fisher's (Erik Rhodes) theater troupe, which includes the spirited Lillian Temple (Lucille Ball). Jenny and Philip instantly like each other even though she rattles on while he's trying to concentrate, hence "Chatterbox."

When the grandfather suspects that Jenny is sneaking off to the theater, he threatens to lock her out if she doesn't return by curfew. Michael overhears the ultimatum and considers Jenny a threat, so when the grandfather decides against locking the door, Michael secretly pulls a fast one and prevents her return.

Jenny, realizing that Philip is heading back to the city, considers this her big chance after having no where else to turn. She stows away in his rumble seat, a fact he discovers after his automobile experiences a flat tire along the way.

When Philip transports Jenny to his boarding house so that he might figure what to do about her, his landlady (Margaret Hamilton) is taken by surprise. This is a refreshingly kindhearted role for Margaret, who has a chance to help to resolve several predicaments here.

One other problem facing Philip has his father's (Granville Bates) insisting that he carry on the family business while Philip prefers to create art.

Another problem is trying to find a spot for Jenny in Archie Fisher's (Erik Rhodes) stage company, which is under attack by temperamental actress Lillian Temple (Lucille Ball). Lucy plays the egotist, while Margaret Hamilton plays the kind soul.

The theater decides to give Jenny her break by casting her in a most unflattering role, which would make her appear quite foolish before the audience. When it does, she now has nowhere to turn.

So, it's up to Edward Ellis, Granville Bates, Margaret Hamilton and Phillips Holmes to try to think up some sort of solutions which may optimally benefit one and all.

Great Anne Shirley & Phillips Holmes

[pauldeboef · 19 December 2020]

CHATTERBOX is a combination of drama and comedy.. The film was less predictable than I thought. Jenny (Anne Shirley), a young girl from Vermont, wants to be an actress. Her mother was an actress and her most famous role was in the 1890's stage play "Virtue's Reward". Jenny is a bit otherwordly, living in a world of her own, the bygone world of the 1890's. She meets a young artist/painter Phil (Phillips Holmes). She is secretly in love with him. He appears to be not interested in her. Reluctantly he takes her to a theatrical company in New York where she can get a part in her favorite play "Virtue's Reward": This melodramatic play has now become a comedy, but she doesn't know that and she takes the part very seriously. Phil worries about what will happen when she finds out the truth about the whole thing.

This is a wonderful film from start to satisfying finish. Perfect acting by the entire cast. Young Anne Shirley gives a terrific performance. She's very intense and she makes even the comedy parts dramatic and honest. Her trustfulness and enthusiasm are poignant. The very talented Phillips Holmes (now undeservedly degraded to B-films) is also surprisingly good and totally convincing. A remarkable film. I am hoping for a DVD release for a better print quality!

Virtues and simpler times

[jarrodmcdonald-1 · 5 October 2015]

I read some of the other reviews, and I agree that this is a wholesome film that showcases its star (Anne Shirley) in a story that extols virtues and simpler times. Nothing wrong with that, is there? It doesn't exactly cover new ground, because Hollywood had been turning out stories about young hopefuls struggling to make it as great actresses for quite some time. But this production is somewhat special and should be watched and appreciated by today's audiences.

In addition to Miss Shirley's fine work, CHATTERBOX offers those who care to take the time to watch it a most sincere performance from Margaret Hamilton. Miss Hamilton usually is given mean characters to play. But she is no witch in this one and instead portrays a kind landlady. The film also gives us Lucille Ball, fairly new at RKO, in a small but significant role. Of course, Lucy would be on to bigger and better roles-- including one in another RKO production about acting hopefuls, STAGE DOOR.