Stand-In (1937)

A New York bank plans to sell a Hollywood studio at a big loss. But the head accountant is suspicious and goes to investigate. He finds chicanery, romance, and help to save the studio.

Director:

Tay Garnett

Writers:

Clarence Budington Kelland (based on the novel: "Stand-in" by), Gene Towne (screen play)

Stars:

Leslie Howard, Humphrey Bogart, Joan Blondell

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Leslie Howard	...	Atterbury Dodd
Joan Blondell	...	Lester Plum
Humphrey Bogart	...	Quintain
Alan Mowbray	...	Koslofski
Marla Shelton	...	Cheri
C. Henry Gordon	...	Nassau
Jack Carson	...	Tom Potts
Tully Marshall	...	Fowler Pettypacker
J.C. Nugent	...	Junior Pettypacker
William V. Mong	...	Cyrus Pettypacker

Storyline

Atterbury Dodd is an efficiency expert who believes everything can be reduced to mathematics. He is sent to Hollywood to see whether Colossal Pictures is a good investment. He soon learns that movie production doesn't fit his formulaic mindset.

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Plot Keywords:

screwball comedy | secretary | director | movie studio | camera shot of feet | 

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Taglines:

Hail! The conquering hero comes!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 October 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mr. Dodd geht nach Hollywood

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walter Wanger Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is one of two dozen Walter Wanger/Harry Sherman/Cinema Guild productions, originally released by United Artists, re-released theatrically in 1948 by Masterpiece Productions, and ultimately sold by them for television broadcast in 1950. It was first telecast in Chicago Monday 19 June 1950 on WENR (Channel 7), in Phoenix Sunday 30 July 1950 on KPHO (Channel 5), in Cincinnati Saturday 26 August 1950 on WKRC (Channel 11), in Los Angeles Sunday 3 September 1950 on KTLA (Channel 5), in Boston Sunday 17 September 1950 on WNAC (Channel 7), in Philadelphia Saturday 14 October 1950 on WFIL (Channel 6), in Detroit Sunday 22 October 1950 on WXYZ (Channel 7), in New York City Monday 18 December 1950 on WOR (Channel 9), in Pittsburgh Friday 26 January 1951 on WDTV (Channel 3), and in San Francisco Saturday 24 February 1951 on KGO (Channel 7).

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Goofs

A little way in accountant Atterbury Dodds walks through the accounts dept. A clerk gives him a slip containing a list of figures which total 1296221. Dodds says "There's an error in the addition the total should be 1296321, have the machine fixed". The total however is correct. The figures are - 63155; 122925; 57005; 54685; 404200; 56705; 122925; 54685; 305250; 54686 which total 1296221

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Quotes

Koslofski: Great pictures are not made... they are remade!

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Connections

Featured in Biography: Humphrey Bogart (2003)

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Soundtracks

That Old Feeling
(1937) (uncredited)
Music by Sammy Fain
Lyrics by Lew Brown
Played at the nightclub and sung by an unidentified chorus
Later sung a cappella by Leslie Howard while working

User Reviews

Quite enjoyable though the ending was a bit incomplete.

This film is enjoyable to watch mostly because of the performances of Tully Marshall and Leslie Howard. While Marshall is in a smaller role, it's hilarious seeing him playing the old and nasty guy who is the head of a mega-corporation--and the way his son and grandson react to him. Marshall has never been funnier--and the same can also be said for Howard. Howard is in his element playing a very stuffy but funny guy--one of his best.

The film begins at a meeting of the board. Marshall learns that his corporation owns a failing movie studio and he's not sure whether they should sell it or keep it--so he dispatches Howard to investigate and makes him the temporary head of the studio. Soon, however, it becomes obvious that Howard is ill-prepared for this job. Although he's great with economics and figures, he doesn't know people. Many of his employees run all over him and he barely notices that one of them (Joan Blondell) is infatuated with him. Can he somehow work all this out or will the studio be sold to the highest bidder?

The film has some nice supporting actors. In addition to Marshall and Blondell, you've also got Humphrey Bogart in a VERY unconventional role as the head of programming. All in all, the stars did a nice job. And, it didn't hurt that the script was quite witty and fun. All in all, a nice little parody of the studios--with many of their foibles roasted here in this cute film. Worth seeing.