People Are Funny (1946)

Two rivaling radio producers try to get the same sponsor. So they try to overtop each other with new ideas.

Director:

Sam White

Writers:

Maxwell Shane (screenplay), David Lang (screenplay),

Stars:

Jack Haley, Helen Walker, Rudy Vallee

Cast

Credited cast:
Jack Haley	...	Pinky Wilson
Helen Walker	...	Corey Sullivan
Rudy Vallee	...	Ormsby Jamison
Ozzie Nelson	...	Leroy Brinker
Phillip Reed	...	John Guedel
Bob Graham	...	Luke
Roy Atwell	...	Mr. Pippensigal
Barbara Roche	...	Aimee
Clara Blandick	...	Grandma Wilson
Art Linkletter	...	Art Linkletter
Frances Langford	...	Frances Langford-Guest Artist
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William 'Billy' Benedict	...	NBC Usher
Ann Jenkins	...	Boogie Woogie Piano Player
The Vagabonds	...	Quartet-Singers / Musicians

Storyline

A comedy based on NBC's "People Are Funny" radio (and later television) program with Art Linkletter with a fictional story of how the program came to be on a national network from its humble beginning at a Nevada radio station. Jack Haley is a producer with only half-rights to the program while Ozzie Nelson and Helen Walker are the radio writers and supply the romance. Rudy Vallee, always able to burlesque himself intentional and, quite often, unintentional, is the owner of the sought-after sponsoring company. Frances Langford, as herself, sings "I'm in the Mood for Love" while the Vagabonds quartet (billed 12th and last) chimes in on "Angeline" and "The Old Square Dance is Back Again."

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Plot Keywords:

radio | producer

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Genres:

Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 January 1946 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pine-Thomas Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The failure of the original copyright holder to renew the film's copyright resulted in it falling into public domain, meaning that virtually anyone could duplicate and sell a VHS/DVD copy of the film. Therefore, many of the versions of this film available on the market are either severely (and usually badly) edited and/or of extremely poor quality, having been duped from second- or third-generation (or more) copies of the film.

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Quotes

Leroy Brinker: I don't like the tone of what you're not saying!

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Soundtracks

"Angelina"
by Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher (as Doris Fischer)
Sung by The Vagabonds

User Reviews

Great rainy day movie

This is the perfect movie to watch on a rainy day. Unless you work in the broadcasting biz, it'll have nothing to do with anything. So it's a great getaway.

The story centers around a group of characters who work in radio. There are two rival producers, a female writer who is coveted by both (for both her talent and her bod), and then there's Pinky the clueless chump who's just along for the ride--yet he's the glue that holds it all together.

There are some pretty interesting themes going on, a lot of backstabbing & questionable loyalties that'll keep you guessing who's the good guy & who's the bad guy. It's basically every man for himself, every woman for herself, and then there's Pinky who is totally neutral due to his naïveté. He plays the host of a variety show that exposes the ridiculousness of people. See the clever metaphor? The musical numbers are thoroughly enjoyable. There's a Spanish number, a mellow Bing Crosby-type song, some great Dixieland piano, and then there's a minstrel routine which is pretty funny because it features a bluegrass band done up in blackface & singing an Italian lovesong (I have no idea if that should be offensive to African-Americans, Italians, Kentuckians or all of the above, but it's pretty crazy).

As you're watching this, you realize you're taking a behind-the-scenes historical peek at a form of entertainment (live radio) that is now completely extinct. That alone should be worth the price of admission. The music, gags, story and lame jokes are icing on the cake.