So You Want to Be an Actor (1949)

Joe McDoakes, unemployed thespian, makes all the casting calls,reads all of the trade papers, sees agents and tries out for casting directors and producers, and finally lands a role; the ... See full summary »

Director:

Richard L. Bare

Writer:

Richard L. Bare

Stars:

George O'Hanlon, Fred Clark, Art Gilmore

Cast

Cast overview:
George O'Hanlon	...	Joe McDoakes

Storyline

Joe McDoakes, unemployed thespian, makes all the casting calls,reads all of the trade papers, sees agents and tries out for casting directors and producers, and finally lands a role; the guy behind the 8-ball that is on the title frame of all of the Joe McDoakes shorts.

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Plot Keywords:

joe mcdoakes | director | film set | theatrical agent | struggling actor | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Short

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 December 1949 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Studios - 5800 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Richard L. Bare Productions, Warner Bros, Vitaphone Corporation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

11 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[opening lines]
Narrator: Ah, yes, Broadway. The original hardened artery. Long known as the double-crossroads of the world, Broadway is also the Acropolis of the actor. In other words, the home of the ham.

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Connections

Follows So You Want to Be a Baby Sitter (1949)

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Soundtracks

"Poet and Peasant Overture"
(uncredited)
Music by Franz von Suppé
Played when Joe is on the telephone

User Reviews

So You Want To See Something A Little Different! While Still Sticking To Formula, This Gives Us Just A Little More For Our Movie Money!

One thing that we know for sure. THE JOE McDOAKES comedies were not meant to be seen one after another. There is little chance of any Revival Movie House or any Movie Cable Network featuring a Joe McDoakes Retrospective, nor any "Evening With Joe McDoakes".

Mr. Richard L. Bare (Writer/Director) and Mr. George O'Hanlon (Writer/Actor-) certainly must have done something right, for the series continued for about 13 years and was highly successful in a period when The Short Subject Field was rapidly disappearing from the Theatrical Film World.

In addition to some typical antics featuring Joe getting the 'Acting Bug' and receiving correspondence school lessons, this episode takes us out of the McDoakes' Home and down to the Movie Studio. In this case, of course, it is Warner Brothers' own studio playing itself in front of the camera. (That's a Joke, Son!) The one thing that makes this entry into the series is that very thing alluded to previously. That is the filming at the studio off of the sound stages. It includes cameos by numerous Warner Bros. contract players tops off this production, giving it that little extra.

We are treated to the appearance of Martha Vickers, Alexis Smith,Janis Page, Wayne Morris and one Actor and Future U.S. President, "Ronnie" Reagan.

But probably the best point of this McDoakes episode is provided by Mr. Jack Carson. Jack does a little bit of interplay with George O'Hanlon that is truly funny and just so unique to the sort of schtick only Jack Carson would do.