Man About Town (1939)

Producer Bob Temple, who's brought an American show to London, loves his star Diana, but she won't take him seriously as a lover. To show her, he picks up stranger Lady Arlington, whose ... See full summary »

Director:

Mark Sandrich

Writers:

Zion Myers (story), Morrie Ryskind (screenplay),

Stars:

Jack Benny, Dorothy Lamour, Edward Arnold

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jack Benny	...	Bob Temple
Dorothy Lamour	...	Diana Wilson
Edward Arnold	...	Sir John Arlington
Binnie Barnes	...	Lady Arlington
Monty Woolley	...	Henri Dubois
Isabel Jeans	...	Mme. Dubois
Phil Harris	...	Ted Nash
Betty Grable	...	Susan Hayes
E.E. Clive	...	Hotchkiss, Arlington's Butler
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson	...	Rochester (as Eddie Anderson)
Merriel Abbott Dancers	...	Themselves, The Merriel Abbott Dancers
Matty Malneck	...	Matty Malneck, Orchestra Leader (as Matty Malneck and His Orchestra)
Matty Malneck's Orchestra	...	Matty Malneck's Orchestra
The Pina Troupe	...	Themselves, The Pina Troupe

Storyline

Producer Bob Temple, who's brought an American show to London, loves his star Diana, but she won't take him seriously as a lover. To show her, he picks up stranger Lady Arlington, whose financier husband neglects her. On a weekend at the Arlington country house, Bob is used by both Lady A. and her friend to make their husbands jealous; this works all too well, and Bob is in danger from both husbands.

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Plot Keywords:

infidelity | jealousy | comedian | revue | london england

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 July 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

En pige på hver finger

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally, this film was to feature Betty Grable opposite Jack Benny in the role of Diana Wilson, but because of appendicitis, she had to be replaced by Dorothy Lamour. Betty recovered in time, however, to contribute a song with Phil Harris (to which Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson danced), "Fidgety Joe" (music by Matty Malneck, lyrics by Frank Loesser).

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Goofs

Susan's hair style changes just before she leaves the house party.

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Quotes

Ted Nash: Bob, you're shaking like a leaf.
Bob Temple: Shaking like a leaf! What's a leaf got to shake about?

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Soundtracks

"DANCE OF THE SULTAN'S WIVES"
Music by Friedrich Hollaender
Danced by the Merriel Abbott Dancers

User Reviews

Tasteless and dull

This is among the worst films ever made by Paramount. It's supposed to be a comedy/musical. But there are no laughs (not even a smile), and the music and the musical numbers are fourth rate. Viewers old enough to have enjoyed the Jack Benny shows on radio and television will find this 1939 movie a great disappointment.

There seems to have been a severe lack of intelligence throughout. The script is inept, Rochester is featured far beyond his talents, Dorothy Lamour and Betty Grable are wasted, and Edward Arnold and Monty Woolley were given embarrassing parts. The racial jabs at Rochester are extraordinarily offensive.

So, The Horn Blows at Midnight was not Jack Benny's worst film.