There Goes My Heart (1938)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Norman Z. McLeod

Writers:

Ed Sullivan (original story)
Eddie Moran (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 October 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Grandfather | Minister | Wristwatch | Police | Sea Captain

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Fredric March	...	Bill' Spencer
Virginia Bruce	...	Joan Butterfield
Patsy Kelly	...	Peggy O'Brien
Alan Mowbray	...	Pennypepper E. Pennypepper
Nancy Carroll	...	Dorothy Moore
Eugene Pallette	...	Mr. Stevens - Editor
Claude Gillingwater	...	Cyrus W. Butterfield
Arthur Lake	...	Flash Fisher
Etienne Girardot	...	Hinkley - Cyrus' Secretary
Robert Armstrong	...	Detective O'Brien
Irving Bacon	...	Mr. Dobbs
Irving Pichel	...	Mr. Gorman
Syd Saylor	...	Robinson (as Sid Saylor)
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Police Officer

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #4536) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Finland:S

Company:

Hal Roach Studios

Trivia:

This film marked the last of Nancy Carroll's 39 feature appearances in an 11-year career.

Quotes:

Joan Butterfield: You don't do your own laundry do you?
Peggy O'Brien: Oh yes, this is my maid's year off!

Soundtrack:

Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)

Comedy Strained, But Not Destroyed

Hounded by the press, an heiress escapes from her stifling, pampered life and takes a job in her own department store.

Produced near the tail-end of the era of screwball comedies, THERE GOES MY HEART is certainly more enjoyable in its parts than in its whole. The film's plot is very silly and much too derivative of IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934). Situations seem a bit forced and the comedy does not always flow very easily.

This unease attaches itself to the lead players. Distinguished actor Fredric March, playing a strong-willed reporter, seems rather unsteady with all the fatuous behavior about him. But at least he gets to indulge in a bit of energetic acting. Unlucky Virginia Bruce, while lovely, gets to be little more than a mannequin, her comic lines few and far between.

The film's real joviality comes from its supporting actors. Loudmouthed Patsy Kelly is wonderful as the noisy shop clerk who becomes Miss Bruce's pal--watching Patsy trying to recover her missing food in a cafeteria, or attempting to sell a vibrating belt exerciser, are comic highlights. Elderly Claude Gillingwater plays Miss Bruce's grumpy millionaire grandfather. Blustery Eugene Pallette is perfect as March's apoplectic editor.

Smaller roles are also well-cast: British Alan Mowbray as Patsy's chiropractic beau; preppy Arthur Lake as March's faithful photographer; chittering Etienne Girardot as Gillingwater's diminutive factotum; and J. Farrell MacDonald as a highly suspicious cop. Robert Armstrong--his glory days as Carl Denham, Kong's captor, half a decade behind him--is completely wasted in his tiny turn as a private detective.

Movie mavens will have no difficulty in spotting two wonderful performers making unbilled appearances: no-nonsense Marjorie Main shows up as a Butterfield's customer intent on buying a ‘fireless cooker' from Miss Bruce; and in the film's final moments look for silent screen clown Harry Langdon in a delightful cameo as a most helpful parson.