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:

HE'S WILDER..CRAZIER...FUNNIER THAN EVER! (original print ad-all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Passed

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

Joe E. Brown asks Bela Lugosi's Pancho Arango what country he is from. Pancho replies proudly: "South America!" Of course, that isn't a country but a whole continent. It is unclear why the writers thought it was the kind of answer Pancho Arango would give, instead of naming one.

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Quotes

Jack Hackett: Well, we better make up our minds where we're going. Say, how about abroad?
Ossie Simpson: Your father said no women.

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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

Bela Lugosi steals the show

The star of this movie is listed as Joe E. Brown, the big-mouthed (literally) comedian who looks as if he could eat a hamburger in one bite. However, stealing the scene whenever he is present, is Bela Lugosi, in a change-of-pace role considering he starred in "Dracula" earlier that year (1931). Here, Bela (a native Hungarian) is a hot-tempered South American (Pancho). When Joe E. Brown (Simpson) accidentally spurts some ink on Bela's dessert at a diner, Bela goes into a maniacal rage. So naturally, their two paths keep crossing. Later Joe E. Brown has a fender-bender with Bela's car... Bela winds up driving off with Brown's car in tow! Bela has some wonderful opportunities to show his comedic abilities. When his girlfriend asks Bela to explain a mix-up to Joe E. Brown (Simpson), Bela goes: "To Simpson-- never!" and opens his mouth wide in a mugging imitation of Joe E. Brown. A must-see movie for Bela Lugosi fans who only consider him a horror actor.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 1931 (USA)

Filming Locations:

The Langham Huntington Hotel - 1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue, Pasadena, 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:

1.20 : 1