At Home (1939)

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Crawford host a formal dress audition in their home for a prospective sponsor of their proposed radio show.

Director:

Lloyd French

Stars:

Jesse Crawford, Mrs. Jesse Crawford, Bill Johnson

Cast

Cast overview:
Jesse Crawford	...	Jesse Crawford - Organist
Mrs. Jesse Crawford	...	Helen Crawford - Organist
Bill Johnson	...	Bill Johnson - Singer
Judith Barron	...	Judith Barron - Singer
Crawford and Caskey	...	Dance Team

Storyline

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Crawford, both accomplished organists, host a formal audition in their Manhattan art deco apartment for a prospective sponsor for their proposed musical variety radio program. The Crawfords, two singers, and a dance team perform for a mousy little man who has come to the apartment as a representative of "The Universal Gas Company."

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Plot Keywords:

host | audition | radio show | organist | gas company | 

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Genres:

Short | Comedy | Music

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 April 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mr. & Mrs. Jesse Crawford 'At Home'

Filming Locations:

Vitaphone Studios, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vitaphone Corporation, The, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

9 min 11 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mrs. Jesse Crawford has no dialogue while Jesse Crawford seems uncomfortable speaking just the few words that he does. The majority of the dialogue is handled by two notable character actors, Percy Helton and Anthony Ross. Although they would go on to become respected actors in TV and films in the 1950s, during the 1930s they were primarily working on the New York stage, and their only film work was confined to New York-based short subjects.

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Goofs

If the Crawfords et al are expecting to audition for a radio program, then why is one of the acts a Astaire and Rogers-type dance team who would not be seen on a radio program?

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Quotes

Man from the Gas Company: [after being served refreshments] Well, this is an unexpected pleasure!
Crawford's Agent: Oh, nothing is too good for the Universal Gas Company.

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Soundtracks

"Tea for Two"
(uncredited)
Music by Vincent Youmans
Played on the organ by Jesse Crawford and Mrs. Jesse Crawford

User Reviews

A Visual Act for the Radio

Mr. & Mrs. Crawford at Home (1939)

** (out of 4)

This Musical-Comedy from Warner doesn't work too well with either. In the film, a group of musicians are "performing" at the (as you guessed it) home of the Crawford's when a "radio" man stops by. They each show what they can offer in hopes that he will sign them up for their own radio show. There's not too much working in this short so it's clearly just going to be for those who enjoy watching everything Vitaphone was releasing back in the day. There are a couple fair music numbers like "When My Dream Boat Comes True" and "The Very Thought of You" but neither one is going to rank as a classic. There are a couple more numbers but they're rather bland and this includes a dance sequence, which wouldn't have been on the radio anyways. The Crawford's are a husband and wife team who play the organ but neither of them are overly impressive even though this was their fourth film credit. The "laughs" never really work either so this here is certainly a miss all around.