Broadminded (1931)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Mervyn LeRoy

Writers:

Bert Kalmar (writer)
Harry Ruby (writer)

Release Date:

1 August 1931 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

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...

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Slapstick

Cast

Joe E. Brown	...	Ossie Simpson
Ona Munson	...	Constance Palmer
William Collier Jr.	...	Jack Hackett
Marjorie White	...	Penny Packer
Holmes Herbert	...	John Hackett, Sr.
Margaret Livingston	...	Mabel Robinson
Bela Lugosi	...	Pancho
Thelma Todd	...	Gertie Gardner
Grayce Hampton	...	Aunt Polly

Runtime:

65 min | 72 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Company:

First National Pictures

Trivia:

Vitaphone production reels #4826-4832 and #4807 (trailer)

Quotes:

[Ossie and Jack are in a diner getting breakfast, and after the waitress brings them their food, Ossie knocks the salt shaker over, spilling the salt]
Ossie Simpson: Oops. Spilled the salt.
[Ossie starts pouring the salt over his left shoulder, dumping it on Pancho, who is sitting right next to him]
Pancho: Hey! Look!
[Pancho points to the salt on his shoulder]
Ossie Simpson: Ah! Dandruff!

Another Mouthful For Mr. Brown

A couple of BROADMINDED fellows find romance on a road trip to Pasadena, California.

Comic Joe E. Brown scores another hit in this very humorous little Pre-Code film which gives him free rein to engage in his madcap capers. Here he plays the supposedly responsible young man chosen to chaperone his highly libidinous cousin after the latter is forced to beat a hasty retreat from a Big City scandal. Brown, of course, proves remarkably capable of causing trouble wherever they travel, thus providing the film with much of its plot. With his large rubbery face & huge mouth a constant source of amusement, Brown enters the movie with much hilarity -- costumed as a bawling infant at the baby party which opens the film. Further on, the scene where he finds himself locked out of his hotel room in his underwear is particularly jovial.

Most of the cast is on hand to provide support during Brown's antics: William Collier Jr. as his frisky cousin; Holmes Herbert as Collier's stern New York City father; Margaret Livingston as Collier's vindictive former flame; Ona Munson as Collier's new heart throb; Grayce Hampton as her frightful aunt.

Even perky little Marjorie White, as Brown's new gal pal, is not given much to do. The two major exceptions are statuesque Thelma Todd, delightful as a compliant actress eager to help the boys out of a nasty jam, and marvelous Bela Lugosi -- the same year he would become an international star as Count Dracula -- lending his malevolent presence as the fierce Gentleman From South America who menaces Brown throughout the film.

Movie mavens will recognize an uncredited Margaret Mann as an elderly hotel guest eager to see some Indians.