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

"In My Merry Oldsmobile"
(1905) (uncredited)
Music by Gus Edwards
Lyrics by Vincent Bryan
Sung a cappella by Ernest Truex

User Reviews

Entertaining Trifle!

A very pleasant way to spend just a little over an hour! Ernest Truex is excellent as the henpecked husband, the "hen" in question being the one and only Florence Bates. George Reeves is properly breezy and pleasant, and there are more great character players to enjoy including outstanding roles for a sour old Charles Halton, a slightly goofy John Alexander, an easily distracted Spencer Charters and good old Clem Bevans as a very irritating deaf judge. But the real star of the show is the often underrated Truex, a gifted actor of both comic and dramatic abilities. I especially enjoyed his little soliloquy as he goes through the paces of convincing himself it's OK to have a drink of hard cider!