Paramount. Director Mitchell Leisen; Producer Lewis E. Gensler; Screenplay Edwin Gelsey, Arthur Kober, Barry Trivers, Walter DeLeon, Francis Martin; Camera Theodor Sparkuhl; Editor Stuart Heisler; Art Director Hans Dreier, Robert Usher
Jack Benny
George Burns
Gracie Allen
Martha Raye
Shirley Ross
Ray Milland
The third in the Big Broadcast series from Paramount, this one, with its large cast of radio, stage and screen talent, far outdistances the two that precede it.
There are enough comedians of one form or another in Broadcast to make it a hit soley on the strength of the laughs: Jack Benny, Martha Raye, Bob Burns and Burns & Allen are the prominents poking at audience ribs.
Burns' best scenes are those in which he bursts in on radio programs which are on the air, while looking for conductor Leopold Stokowski. Raye is slow to get started but finishes strong. Towards the end she socks through with the 'Vote for Mr Rhythm' number.
Benny plays the manager of the radio studios. He is mostly having his troubles with everyone from Gracie Allen down. The latter clicks from the outset, getting in for the earlier laughs built around the rehearsal of a skit under cute circumstances.
Several well known New York niteries get their names into the footage through the director's manner of suggesting how Ray Milland and Shirley Ross make the town one night.
(B&W) Extract of a review from 1936. Running time: 100 MIN.
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