Mr. Dodd Takes the Air (1937)

A small town electrician becomes a hit singer in New York and gets involved with a gold digger, a thief, an opera singer and the woman he loves.

Director:

Alfred E. Green

Writers:

William Wister Haines (screenplay), Elaine Ryan (screenplay)

Stars:

Kenny Baker, Frank McHugh, Alice Brady

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Kenny Baker	...	Claude L. Dodd
Frank McHugh	...	'Sniffer' Sears
Alice Brady	...	Mme. Sonia Moro
Gertrude Michael	...	Jessica Stafford
Jane Wyman	...	Marjorie Day
John Eldredge	...	Jim Lidin
Henry O'Neill	...	D.M. Gateway
Harry Davenport	...	Doc Jeremiah George Quinn
Ferris Taylor	...	Hiram P. Doremus
Linda Perry	...	Information Desk Girl

Storyline

In the small town of Pewamo, Claude Dodd, an electrician singing baritone in the local Strawberry Festival is heard by the owner of the Morpheus Mattress Company, who hires him to sing on the radio program he sponsors. Before he leaves for New York with his manager, "Sniffer" Sears, he has a minor operation to cure an attack of quinsy, and is told by the doctor not to use his voice. In front of the radio microphone the following week, he finds he's a tenor when he sings, much to the chagrin of the mattress company owner, who hates tenors. But that soon changes when telegrams pour in praising his voice, so that the station owner, Gateway, offers him a contract for 52 weeks, at a salary of $1000 per week, which was upped from the initial offer by Gateway's secretary, Marjorie Day, signalling Sears. Marjorie took a liking to Claude and vice versa, so while Claude becomes wealthy and famous, he and Marjorie fall in love. Because of his fame, he meets ditsy but egotistical opera singer, ...

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Plot Keywords:

invention | singer | radio | new york | gold digger | 

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Taglines:

THIS RADIO ROMEO HAD THREE WOMEN ON HIS HANDS! and one on his mind! (Print Ad- Fort Dodge Messenger-Chronicle, ((Fort Dodge, Iowa)) 28 September 1937)

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The novel by Clarence Budington Kelland on which this film is based was serialized in The Saturday Evening Post from 27 August to 1 October 1932.

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Goofs

When Sonia Moro (Alice Brady) goes to sing at the party, the plug and wire on the radio microphone switches sides between shots.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits emanate from the top of the radio transmitter tower.

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Soundtracks

Chicken Reel
(uncredited)
Traditional
Played briefly during the opening scene

User Reviews

Cute PLot. Brady Great

I had never heard of Kenny Baker till this turned up. He certainly could sing but not in a way that appeals to me. He's likable as the hick who becomes a star. Gertrude Michael is excellent as the gold-digger who tries to get his money. Jane Wyman is sweet as the girl who truly cares for him.

But Alice Brady is a scream as a diva. She's an opera singer -- who dubbed her singing voice?? -- and a very grand lady. She presages Mary Boland's classic performance as the Countess in "The Women." There's no reason not to like this harmless movie. And Brady elevates it to having a reason to like it very much indeed.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 August 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Den mystiske radiosanger

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1