That's Right - You're Wrong (1939)

Radio sensation Kay Kyser and his band are lured to Hollywood to make a movie, but the screenwriters assigned to the project have difficulty tailoring a script to Kyser's persona.

Director:

David Butler

Writers:

William M. Conselman (screen play) (as William Conselman), James V. Kern (screen play)

Stars:

Kay Kyser, Adolphe Menjou, May Robson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Kay Kyser	...	Kay Kyser
Adolphe Menjou	...	Stacey Delmore
May Robson	...	Grandma
Lucille Ball	...	Sandra Sand
Dennis O'Keefe	...	Chuck Deems - the Band Manager
Edward Everett Horton	...	Tom Village - a Screenwriter
Roscoe Karns	...	Mal Stamp
Moroni Olsen	...	Jonathan Forbes
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Dwight Cook - a Screenwriter
Kay Kyser Band	...	Kay Kyser's Band (as Kay Kyser's Band)
Ginny Simms	...	Ginny Simms - Band Singer
Harry Babbitt	...	Harry Babbitt
Sully Mason	...	Sully Mason
M.A. Bogue	...	Ish Kabibble (as Ish Kabibble)

Storyline

A fictional-story film in which many of the people seen in it are using their real name portraying the character who shows up in this fictional film in a completely fictional-and-staged setting, which means their role name is their own name, and is not any combination of "Self": The fictional J. D. Forbes, head of the (fictional) Four Star Studios in Hollywood, informs his associate producers that business and attendance at Four Star Films has tanked, and changes must be made. J. D. has decided that the movie-going public has to be offered down-to-earth entertainment such as that offered by a band leader named Kay Kyser, who puts on a radio and-live theatre program called "The Kollege of Musical Knowledge," and Forbes dictates to his hirelings to "get me Kay Kyser." When Chuck Deems---a fictional character playing the manager of a 'real' band---gets the studio offer, he and band members Ginny Simms, Sully Mason, Ish Kabiddle, Harry Babbitt and the others are all fired up at the ...

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Plot Keywords:

1930s | hollywood | los angeles california | california | grandmother | 

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Taglines:

Rip My Rompers, Look Who's Here! in The Laugh-Swing Sensation Of The Century!

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie provides a rare opportunity to see three of the most influential Hollywood columnists active at the time. Sheilah Graham, Hedda Hopper and Jimmy Starr all appear as themselves in the press conference / party scene at the house.

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Quotes

Grandma: Hang on to your happiness with both hands, dear. You can only be young once.

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Crazy Credits

Listed in the acting credits were "The College of Musical Knowledge", but that referred to Kay Kyser's audience at the radio program, which he called "students."

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Connections

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

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Soundtracks

Back in Your Own Backyard
(1928) (uncredited)
Music by Dave Dreyer
Lyrics by Al Jolson and Billy Rose
Played by the Kay Kyser Band at the radio program

User Reviews

Nostalgic but bland fun for anyone who can remember Kay Kayser and his band...

KAY KYSER was the equivalent of "Spike Jones" and his crazy musicians during the '40s era, his swing music and zany shenanigans winning him quite a number of fans who relished seeing him in seven Kyser films. This is the first that he made for RKO--and for added diversion there's LUCILLE BALL, DENNIS O'KEEFE, ADOLPHE MENJOU, EDWARD EVERETT HORTON, GINNY SIMMS and band regulars like ISH KABIBBLE for whatever laughter is available--unfortunately, not enough.

Not half as funny or original as the haunted house comedy YOU'LL FIND OUT which followed, this has a simple screenplay which has Hollywood producers yearning for something "down to earth" to appeal to the average movie-goer rather than anything "great". They pick Kyser as the popular band leader who can be induced to come to Hollywood and do his thing.

The music is all in the swing sound of the '40s--modern pop--and whether you like the film will depend largely on your musical taste. Kyser puts up resistance to becoming a film star. "Stay in your own backyard," is his motto, inspired by his grandmother's advice.

What follows is strictly farce with Kyser illogically paired with lovely LUCILLE BALL as a romantic gondolier by the Hollywood producers. With such a sprightly cast, you'd think David Butler would have whipped up a better script and provided better direction--but the viewer is soon aware that this is a minor item for Kyser's debut and even the musical numbers are less than inspiring.

Apparently grandma MAY ROBSON was right--stick to radio Kyser.

David Butler apparently had a penchant for writing stories about Hollywood studios and turning personalities into movie stars. For better treatment of this theme, check out his IT'S A GREAT FEELING with Doris Day as the wannabee star being pushed for stardom by Jack Carson and Dennis Morgan.

This one is strictly for Kyser's fans.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 November 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

That's Right - You're Wrong

Box Office

Budget:

$253,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1