Calling All Husbands (1940)

Homer Trippe is very henpecked by his wife, and Mrs. Trippe also dominates the life of her daughter, dismissing her boyfriend Dan as merely a delivery clerk. Mrs. Trippe constantly moans ... See full summary »

Director:

Noel M. Smith

Writers:

Robert E. Kent (screenplay), Martin Flavin (play)

Stars:

George Tobias, Lucile Fairbanks, Ernest Truex

Cast

Complete credited cast:
George Tobias	...	Oscar 'Panhandle' Armstrong
Lucile Fairbanks	...	Bette Trippe
Ernest Truex	...	Homer Trippe
George Reeves	...	Dan Williams
Florence Bates	...	Mrs. Emmie Dolittle Trippe
Charles Halton	...	Hadley Weaver
Virginia Sale	...	Aunt Mabel Parker
John Alexander	...	Sheriff Ben Barnes
Clem Bevans	...	Judge Todd
Sam McDaniel	...	Nappy, Hotel Janitor
Elliott Sullivan	...	Chunky

Storyline

Homer Trippe is very henpecked by his wife, and Mrs. Trippe also dominates the life of her daughter, dismissing her boyfriend Dan as merely a delivery clerk. Mrs. Trippe constantly moans about her poor choice of Homer over one-time suitor Oscar Armstrong. Homer is happy, poetic, and kind, but afraid to stand up to Mrs. Trippe's opposition to Dan and Betty's romance. Dan gives Betty an ultimatum: marry him or lose him. Meanwhile, Homer feeds a tramp, who turns out to be the oft-invoked Oscar Armstrong. But Oscar has an even bigger surprise in store for the Trippes.

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Plot Keywords:

burglary | hobo | father daughter relationship | con man | secret marriage | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 September 1940 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

63 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The play opened in New York City, New York, USA on 5 November 1929 and had 178 performances. In the cast were Donald Meek and Bette Davis.

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Connections

Version of Too Young to Marry (1931)

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Soundtracks

"Tip-Toe thru' the Tulips with Me"
(1929) (uncredited)
Music by Joseph Burke
Played on harmonica by George Tobias at the wedding

User Reviews

Nice short comedy

All we hear from the mother character is how wonderful "Oscar" was and how much she regrets not marrying him. Well as Homer's life seems to fail expectations, "Oscar" returns but he is far from the perfect man that mom thinks he is. A great little short movie with the message that people rarely live up to the "perfect" memories you have of them.

While all of this is going on there is the often used sub-plot of young love in which the mother doesn't support her daughters choice of suitor. The daughter is in love with a low level co-worker of the father. The happy couple must convince the mother that they are right for each other and that the young man is able to make a success of himself someday.

Throw in a robbery, an old maid aunt who likes to stick her nose in everyones business and we have an original story that nicely comes together at the end.