Piccadilly Jim (1936)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Robert Z. Leonard

Writers:

P.G. Wodehouse (novel)
Charles Brackett (writer) ...

Release Date:

14 August 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Jim's father wants to marry Eugenia, but her sister Netta refuses to allow it. When Jim sees Ann at a club...

Plot Keywords:

Deception | Cartoon | Remake | Ship | Nobility

Cast

Robert Montgomery	...	James Crocker, Jr.
Frank Morgan	...	James Crocker - Sr. / Count Olav Osric
Madge Evans	...	Ann Chester
Eric Blore	...	Bayliss, Jim's Butler
Billie Burke	...	Eugenia Willis, Nesta's Sister
Robert Benchley	...	Bill Macon
Ralph Forbes	...	Lord Frederick 'Freddie' Priory
Cora Witherspoon	...	Nesta Pett, Ann's Aunt
Tommy Bupp	...	Ogden Pett
Aileen Pringle	...	Paducah Pomeroy
Grant Mitchell	...	Herbert Pett
E.E. Clive	...	London Gossip Editor Bill Mechan
Billy Bevan	...	Taxi Driver
Grayce Hampton	...	Mrs. Brede (as Grace Hampton)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Madge Evans's name appears on a theater marquee in a montage sequence within the movie. She was starring with Cyril Ritchard in a West End play whose name was partially obscured in the film.

Movie Connections:

Version of Piccadilly Jim (2004)

Soundtrack:

Night of Nights

Enjoyable comedy

I am becoming a Robert Montgomery fan as I see more of his movies. As an actor who made most of his films in the 30's he is largely forgotten today compared with actors who kept making films into the fifties like Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart. However he is a fine natural actor, a very good comedian and an altogether charming leading man. His specialty is the warm-hearted, well-mannered and slightly tipsy gentleman in evening clothes and he doesn't disappoint in this film. He pursues the girl with an admirable single-mindedness and belief in the inevitability of her eventual reciprocation.

The film has other pleasures, most notably the presence of Eric Blore as the gentleman's gentleman. This delightful actor is one of the great funny-men of this era. Also in fine form are Frank Morgan, as the ham actor who impersonates a Hungarian Count, Cora Witherspoon as an overbearing society woman, Billy Burke, Grant Mitchell and Robert Benchley as, what else, a lush. Truly a smorgasbord of character acting.

The plot is interesting enough to hold our attention and the little snippets of caricature and thirties-style newspaper comic strip are fun.

The only slight disappointment is Madge Evans as the ingénue, who plays it straight and is no match for the sublime Montgomery. All in all an enjoyable interlude.