All Is Confusion (1937)
"Riding on Air" (original title)

Smugglers are using a device for controlling airplanes in flight, and newspaper reporters from Chicago are vying for the story. Reporter Elmer Lane is out to scoop rival reporter Betty Harrison, and capture her heart in the process.

Director:

Edward Sedgwick

Writers:

Richard Macaulay (character: Elmer Lane), Richard Macaulay (screenplay),

Stars:

Joe E. Brown, Guy Kibbee, Florence Rice

Cast

Cast overview:
Joe E. Brown	...	Elmer Lane
Guy Kibbee	...	J. Rutherford 'Doc' Waddington
Florence Rice	...	Betty Harrison
Vinton Hayworth	...	Harvey Schumann (as Vinton Haworth)
Anthony Nace	...	Bill Hilton
Harlan Briggs	...	Mr. Harrison
Andrew Tombes	...	Eddie Byrd
Clem Bevans	...	Sheriff
Harry C. Bradley	...	Mayor

Storyline

When he wins $5000 in an essay contest for a breakfast cereal, small town reporter and amateur aviator Elmer Lane becomes a target for con man Doc Waddington. After the naive newsman involves gullible local businessmen in the scheme and they discover they've been flim-flammed, his credibility with his friends and fiancée 'is shattered. In order to restore his reputation, the novice pilot needs to solve a murder and expose a bootlegging smuggling ring.

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Plot Keywords:

reporter | smuggler | aviator | pilot | newspaper | 

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Taglines:

With his heart in his mouth and his mouth wide open, he's off!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 June 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

All Is Confusion

Company Credits

Production Co:

David L. Loew Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor High Fidelity Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Eddie Byrd: [Furious] Get out of here befor you're carried out.
Elmer Lane: Gee, Mr. Byrd, you look mad enough to kill.
Eddie Byrd: Listen, don't put ideas in my head, will you?

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Soundtracks

"I'm Tired of Trying to Make You Care"
Written by Henry Cohen and Edward Sedgwick (uncredited)

User Reviews

Not One of Brown's Best But Still Funny

I would agree that the movie is not well written or well directed. However, Joe E. Brown is still a great comedian. He offers a lot of clever twists and turns in the plot and makes the whole thing passable entertainment.

Brown belongs on the short list of great 1930's comedians with Laurel and hardy, W.C. Fields and Mae West. He is a wonderful combination of rube and conman. He has a wide mouth not matched in size till Jim Carrey in the 90's.

Even here, not generally his best material, there are many chuckles to be had. The short scene of him taking a bath is a little gem. He has all kinds of weird contraptions to make the bath process easier. Perhaps only Keaton could have done it better. Daredevil antics in an airplane remind one of Harold Lloyd. Except for Lloyd, nobody could have done it better.

There is a curious lack of music throughout this film. I am wondering if the music track was lost at some point. Anybody know about this?