Broadminded (1931)

Jack's father is sending Jack away to keep him from the gambling, booze, girls and late nights. He has Ossie go as Jack's companion, not knowing that Ossie does the same things as Jack. ... See full summary »

Director:

Mervyn LeRoy

Writers:

Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby

Stars:

Joe E. Brown, Ona Munson, William Collier Jr.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joe E. Brown	...	Ossie Simpson
Ona Munson	...	Constance Palmer
William Collier Jr.	...	Jack Hackett
Marjorie White	...	Penny Packer
Holmes Herbert	...	John J. Hackett Sr.
Margaret Livingston	...	Mabel Robinson
Thelma Todd	...	Gertie Gardner
Bela Lugosi	...	Pancho Arango
Grayce Hampton	...	Aunt Polly

Storyline

Jack's father is sending Jack away to keep him from the gambling, booze, girls and late nights. He has Ossie go as Jack's companion, not knowing that Ossie does the same things as Jack. They decide to go to California and the trip is long as Jack stops for every girl he sees. In a restaurant in the southwest, they meet Poncho. It seems that every time Ossie sees Pancho, he does something that almost gets him into a fight. When they get to Pasadena, the boys meet Connie and Penny and Aunt Polly. After a few days, Jack proposes and Connie accepts. However, that is that day that Mabel, Jacks jilted fiancée from New York, shows up.

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Plot Keywords:

cousin is cousin's guardian | father distrusts son | b movie | song | singing | 

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Taglines:

When he opens his eyes he looks for girls! When he opens his mouth...you'll look for laughs...and get plenty! (originanlprint ad)

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 1931 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Huntington Hotel - 752 S Main St, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

First National Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

65 min 72 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Brunswick Radios Used Exclusively)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bela's Pancho Arango drives an automobile but Bela Lugosi is never seen behind the wheel, only exiting. It has been reported that, in real life, Bela Lugosi never drove, it was his wife Lillian who drove him around. It is unclear whether he ever learned.

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Goofs

By jerking the shaker his way 4 times, Joe E. Brown has dumped quite a bit of salt on Bela Lugosi's back. But as he gets up to fetch a postcard, the camera cuts to the opposite side of the counter where they're sitting; as Bela spins around on his seat, to follow Joe with his eyes, we can see that Bela barely has any salt at all on his back, even before he's started dusting himself off.

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Quotes

[repeated line]
Ossie Simpson: Remember what your father said...

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Soundtracks

Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)
(1850) (uncredited)
from "Lohengrin"
Written by Richard Wagner
Sung by all at the baby party
Later whistled by William Collier Jr.

User Reviews

Another Mouthful For Mr. Brown

A couple of BROADMINDED fellows find romance on a road trip to Pasadena, California.

Comic Joe E. Brown scores another hit in this very humorous little Pre-Code film which gives him free rein to engage in his madcap capers. Here he plays the supposedly responsible young man chosen to chaperone his highly libidinous cousin after the latter is forced to beat a hasty retreat from a Big City scandal. Brown, of course, proves remarkably capable of causing trouble wherever they travel, thus providing the film with much of its plot. With his large rubbery face & huge mouth a constant source of amusement, Brown enters the movie with much hilarity -- costumed as a bawling infant at the baby party which opens the film. Further on, the scene where he finds himself locked out of his hotel room in his underwear is particularly jovial.

Most of the cast is on hand to provide support during Brown's antics: William Collier Jr. as his frisky cousin; Holmes Herbert as Collier's stern New York City father; Margaret Livingston as Collier's vindictive former flame; Ona Munson as Collier's new heart throb; Grayce Hampton as her frightful aunt.

Even perky little Marjorie White, as Brown's new gal pal, is not given much to do. The two major exceptions are statuesque Thelma Todd, delightful as a compliant actress eager to help the boys out of a nasty jam, and marvelous Bela Lugosi -- the same year he would become an international star as Count Dracula -- lending his malevolent presence as the fierce Gentleman From South America who menaces Brown throughout the film.

Movie mavens will recognize an uncredited Margaret Mann as an elderly hotel guest eager to see some Indians.