Stand-In (1937)

A former child star falls in love with a stuffy accountant, who wants to learn why his firm's movie studio is losing money.

Director:

Tay Garnett

Writers:

Clarence Budington Kelland (based on the novel: "Stand-in" by), Gene Towne (screen play),

Stars:

Leslie Howard, Joan Blondell, Humphrey Bogart

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Leslie Howard	...	Atterbury Dodd
Joan Blondell	...	Lester Plum
Humphrey Bogart	...	Quintain
Alan Mowbray	...	Koslofski
Marla Shelton	...	Cheri
C. Henry Gordon	...	Nassau
Jack Carson	...	Tom Potts
Tully Marshall	...	Fowler Pettypacker
J.C. Nugent	...	Junior Pettypacker
William V. Mong	...	Cyrus Pettypacker

Storyline

Atterbury Dodd is an efficiency expert who believes everything can be reduced to mathematics. He is sent to Hollywood to see whether Colossal Pictures is a good investment. He soon learns that movie production doesn't fit his formulaic mindset.

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Plot Keywords:

movie studio | secretary | director | reference to shirley temple | camera shot of feet | 

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Taglines:

Hail! The conquering hero comes!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 October 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mr. Dodd geht nach Hollywood

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walter Wanger Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character of Lester Plum bares some resemblance Marie Osborne, a child actress in the silent era who returned to the film industry in the 1930's as an extra and stand-in. It's unclear if Osborne's life story was directly influential on this film or the role played by Joan Blondell.

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Quotes

Koslofski: Great pictures are not made... they are remade!

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Connections

Featured in Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984)

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Soundtracks

"I Can't Give You Anything but Love"
(1928) (uncredited)
Music by Jimmy McHugh
Lyrics by Dorothy Fields
One line sung a cappella by Jack Carson

User Reviews

Funny but Imperfect Hollywood Comedy/Romance

Atterbury Dodd is opposed to his New York banker bosses selling off Colossal Studios for only half of what he thinks its worth. Being the first person ever to stand up to the big boss he's sent off to see whats going on with the seemingly failing studio. Once there he finds that the buyer is manipulating the latest Colossal movie into being a turkey so he can buy the studio cheap and turn a profit when he closes it down. Dodd also runs into Miss Plum who will soon becomes Dodd's guide through the madness of film making.

Much of the film is concerned with Dodd dealing with the insanity of film studios while not realizing that he's falling in love with Miss Plum. The last third of the film concerns efforts to turn save the studio and the film.

This is really a Leslie Howard movie. Howard and Joan Blondell, as Miss Plum are a wonderful screen couple and one wishes there was even more time of them together. Although Humphrey Bogart is listed third he's in maybe 20 minutes of this often funny film. He is wonderful in a the role of the previous studio head and producer of the turkey in the making.

The film is filled with funny lines and fleeting appearances, Charles Middleton is a scream; as is a stuntman who refuses to do his stunt for money. This is a funny funny movie especially if you love old movies.

The problem is that the film is at times unfocused. Is it a comedy? A Romance? The sequences with the villain seem to be from another movie. I question why some of the characters are allowed to be so annoying, Potts, the publicity man in particular, is the screen version of fingernails on a blackboard. I'm sure there were people like that in Hollywood, but I never want to meet them.

I also have a problem with the ending which ends too soon for my tastes.

Still this is 90 minutes of great fun, especially if you love old films.

Worth seeking out, possibly even buying.

7 out of 10 with spikes of truly wonderful moments (Going under the table for one)