Naughty But Nice (1939)

Professor Hardwick teaches at Winfield College and detests the new swing music that is the craze. He has written a rhapsody which he takes to New York to be published. Staying with his Aunt... See full summary »

Director:

Ray Enright

Writers:

Richard Macaulay (screenplay), Jerry Wald (screenplay)

Stars:

Ann Sheridan, Dick Powell, Gale Page

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ann Sheridan	...	Zelda Manion
Dick Powell	...	Professor Donald Hardwick
Gale Page	...	Linda McKay
Helen Broderick	...	Aunt Martha Hogan
Ronald Reagan	...	Ed Clark
Allen Jenkins	...	Joe Dirk
Zasu Pitts	...	Aunt Penelope Hardwick
Maxie Rosenbloom	...	Killer (as Maxie Rosenblum)
Jerry Colonna	...	Allie Gray
Luis Alberni	...	Stanislaus Pysinski
Vera Lewis	...	Aunt Annabella Hardwick
Elizabeth Dunne	...	Aunt Henrietta Hardwick
William B. Davidson	...	Sam' Hudson (as Bill Davidson)
Granville Bates	...	Judge
Halliwell Hobbes	...	Dean Burton

Storyline

Professor Hardwick teaches at Winfield College and detests the new swing music that is the craze. He has written a rhapsody which he takes to New York to be published. Staying with his Aunt Martha, he is surrounded by swing and after a few drinks, he is photographed hanging on the chandelier. He finds that he can only sell his rhapsody to Eddie and Miss McKay puts lyrics to it. It is a big swing sensation and the partnership of Hardwick and McKay crank out the hits until Zelda breaks up the team. Zelda wants to sing the hot songs and have Hudson, the Home of the Hits, publish the music.

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Plot Keywords:

deception | professor | college | aunt | swing music | 

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Taglines:

The "Oomph" Girl's Greatest Tri"Oomph"

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film's earliest documented telecast took place in Tucson Monday 24 September 1956 on KDWI (Channel 9); it first aired in Albuquerque Saturday 6 October 1956 on KOAT (Channel 7), in Phoenix Tuesday 23 October 1956 on KVOS (Channel 12), in Boston Friday 26 October 1956 on WBZ (Channel 4), in Salt Lake City Tuesday 12 February 1957 on KUTV (Channel 2), and in Portland OR Sunday 24 March 1957 on KOIN (Channel 6).

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Quotes

Aunt Henrietta Hardwick: We flew.
Aunt Annabella Hardwick: By airplane.
Aunt Martha Hogan: You three would look more at home on broomsticks.

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Connections

Referenced in The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956)

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Soundtracks

Millions of Dreams Ago
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
(based on "I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls" from "The Bohemian Girl" by Michael William Balfe)
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung a cappella by Gale Page

User Reviews

A cute, funny film.

NAUGHTY BUT NICE works. Dick Powell plays a daffy professor, but the real sparkle is from Helen Broderick as the big city aunt who does the jazz thing, gets her visiting nephew, an aspiring classical composer, involved in the wonderful world of pop jazz songwriting. He's a success, despite the criticisms of his University dean (Halliwell Hobbes) and his three quasi-abolitionist sisters (Vera Lewis, Elizabeth Dunne, and the always fascinating Zasu Pitts).

Good film. The Ed "Eddie" Clark character handled a team of songwriters, and while Powell was tricked into working for another, his love interest worked for the Clark team. I found myself standing whenever Clark appeared on screen.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 July 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Professor Steps Out

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1