On the Air: Radio as portrayed in Golden Age cinema
A list of films portraying radio singers and radio broadcasts in the 1930s and 1940s.
The "live broadcast" scenario was often used to good effect in slapstick comedies and, of course, musical films. Never having experienced the Golden Age of Radio firsthand, I love getting a glimpse of what it was like in classic films.
This is not a list of radio programs, but rather films which are, at least in part, about radio - announcers, singers, sponsors, contests etc.. By no means complete - any suggestions welcome!
The "live broadcast" scenario was often used to good effect in slapstick comedies and, of course, musical films. Never having experienced the Golden Age of Radio firsthand, I love getting a glimpse of what it was like in classic films.
This is not a list of radio programs, but rather films which are, at least in part, about radio - announcers, singers, sponsors, contests etc.. By no means complete - any suggestions welcome!
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- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsJoel McCreaLaraine DayHerbert MarshallOn the eve of World War II, a young American reporter tries to expose enemy agents in London.Joel McCrea's rousing speech at the end..
- DirectorNick GrindeStarsRonald ReaganJune TravisEddie AcuffAndy McCaine is the ace crime reporter for a radio station. However, his exposés of corruption in high places gets him in trouble with the sponsor of his show, E.E. Nichols, who is in league with gangster Nicey Ferguson. Nichols pressures Andy's boss to demote him to a children's show, but Andy finds a way to use the kid show to bust open a murder case.
- DirectorRay EnrightStarsDick PowellPat O'BrienGinger RogersUnscrupulous agent Rush makes singing waiter Clayton a big radio star while Peggy, who has lost her own radio show, helps Clayton.
- DirectorJoseph SantleyStarsRay WalkerJulie BishopCharley GrapewinA young man from a small town heads to New York, determined to become a radio star. He achieves his goal but in the process alienates those around him.
- DirectorClifford SanforthStarsFrank LutherDorothy DareLona AndreAn opera singer whose career is on the wane finds newfound fame doing popular songs on the radio.
- DirectorPhil RosenStarsJohn BolesMona BarrieBilly LeeJeff Carter, a struggling singer, pursues radio acting to support his son Danny. Aided by his son and agent Charley Grady, Jeff finds success in radio and achieves his professional goals through this medium.
- DirectorRalph StaubStarsRobert PaigeCarol HughesWarren HymerA heartthrob singer, Tony Paige, also known as "America's Boyfriend" decides to wed a Swedish actress.
- DirectorRaoul WalshStarsGeorge RaftAlice FayeFrances LangfordAfter being fired from their jobs, three friends decide to enter an amateur contest at a radio station.
- DirectorAlfred E. GreenStarsRudy ValleeAnn DvorakNed SparksCollege band-leader "Skip" Houston keeps his band together after graduation, they turn professional, and they are a big hit on the radio and in nightclubs. He falls in love with Bonnie Haydon, a dancer who hates him because he is constantly taunting her about her act and offering suggestions for improvements. She slowly learns that any engagements or work she has is because of Houston.
- DirectorWilliam A. SeiterStarsGinger RogersNorman FosterZasu PittsA vice-free radio singer wants to experience the dark side of life, so a press agent convinces her sponsor to choose a "professional sweetheart" from her fans.
- DirectorFrank TuttleStarsStuart ErwinBing CrosbyLeila HyamsA radio-singer, Bing Crosby, is none-too-concerned about his job, and an affair with Mona leads to his dismissal. When it appears Hornsby is getting and paying a lot of attention to his fiancée, Anita Rogers, station manager Leslie McWhinney buys the station, gives Hornsby his job back, and goes on a honeymoon with Anita.
- DirectorJoseph SantleyStarsJudy CanovaFrancis LedererRaymond WalburnHarold l. Montgomery, the scatterbrain vice-president of the United Broadcasing System, is dismayed when he learns that one-foot of the ground on which the station's imposing new structure has been built is part of the adjoining lot belonging to Judy Goober, a hillbilly girl, who could sue them for millions. Mortally afraid of his domineering, ill-tempered sister, Matilda. who is the president of the company, Montgomery decides to say nothing to her regarding the problem and, instead, takes his equally-scatterbrained son, Junior, with him to the Ozarks to talk Judy into selling the property before she learns the truth. But Judy turns out to be a hard-sell and Montgomery enlists the services of handsome Prince Karl, a frayed-at-the-cuffs but glib-of-tongue Russian who faces jail for back-alimony payments, and needs any job he can get.
- DirectorMonte BriceStarsFrank ParkerTamaraHelen LyndArrested when he gets into a fracas, while escorting the girl he has hitherto loved only from afar, noted ballet dancer Delphine, to her car, Danny O'Day, famous radio tenor, is late for his broadcast and ruled off the air. He meets his friend Jerry Burke at the restaurant of Jack Dempsey where the Manassa Mauler consoles him. Delphine breaks her contract and aided by her friend Dot Frost escapes her manager, Antonio Grezato and sails for Europe on the "Normandie," disguised as a school teacher. Danny and Jerry are also on the boat. Delphine is impersonated by Maizie Marshall who closely resembles her. Maizie does this at the instigation of Nick Harrington, a suave crook who has recognized Delphine and sees a chance for some dishonest doings. Delphine cannot object because Harrington threatens to unmask her if she does. Nick and Maizie steal Delphine's passport and letter-of-credit during a fancy dress ball. When the ship arrives at Le Havre, France, James P. Hargrave, international peace propagandist who wants Danny to sing on a peace broadcast, is arrested on suspicion of being a Communist agitator. Delphine, who has befriended him, is also arrested. Maizie is interviewed by the press, thinking she is Delphine, and is offered an engagement in the ballet Appasionata for 100,000 francs. She receives half in advance, As Danny sings in the peace broadcast from the Eiffel Tower, he learns what has happened to Delphine and Hargrave from Dot.
- DirectorHoward BrethertonStarsFrankie DarroMarjorie ReynoldsMantan MorelandA none-too-popular (nor good) radio singer, Rita Wilson is murdered while singing on the air in a radio studio. Radio page boy, Frankie Ryan, and his janitor pal, Jeff, solve the mystery for the none-too-sharp police.
- DirectorRalph MurphyStarsJoe MorrisonHelen TwelvetreesConrad NagelWhen the romance between radio-singer Eddie Blake and Bessie Dunn goes sour through a series of misunderstanding, Bessie packs to take a week-end trip with the station boss,Stephen Barclay, and Eddie proposes to Hazel, who appears to be open to any kind of proposal. With all of the principals involved and in the office elevator, a cable breaks and the elevator is suspended between floors...and the resolvements begin.
- DirectorEdward F. ClineStarsThe Andrews SistersPatty AndrewsMaxene AndrewsA group of entertainers visit a radio singer's home to try to get her to book them on her show.
- DirectorMarshall NeilanStarsPinky TomlinToby WingBert RoachA toy company owner and his daughter find a singing hillbilly in the Arkansas backwoods and take him back to the big city in hopes of helping their radio show ratings.
- DirectorSidney SalkowStarsWilliam GarganJudith BarrettDon WilsonComplications ensue after a radio producer insults a sponsor.
- DirectorPhil KarlsonStarsJackie MoranWanda McKaySidney MillerTwo young men working as pages at a radio station try to get an audition for a girl they know who wants to be a singer. When the station's star singer is murdered, they decide to solve the crime themselves.
- DirectorArthur DreifussStarsFreddie StewartJune PreisserWarren MillsA high school student is mistaken for a famous radio singer who goes missing. Complications ensue.
- DirectorErle C. KentonStarsBud AbbottLou CostelloPatric KnowlesTwo dumb soda jerks dream of writing radio mysteries. When they try to pitch an idea at a radio station, they end up in the middle of a real murder after the station owner is killed during a broadcast.
- DirectorBusby BerkeleyStarsDolores Del RíoEverett MarshallGuy KibbeeDonna (Del Rio) is a diva of the stage and wants her lover Rico (Alvarado) as her leading man. To keep this from happening, the producers (Churchill, Cavanaugh) grab Roger Kerry (Marshall) off the street and say he has a contract.
- DirectorGeorge MarshallStarsJames StewartPaulette GoddardHorace HeidtJimmy goes to work with his uncle, the owner of a food factory. Before he gets there, he befriends an Irish family who happens to be his uncle's worst enemy because of their love for music and in-house band who constantly practices.
- DirectorGeorge MarshallStarsMary MartinFranchot ToneDick PowellA radio serial writer needs inspiration, so he rents a room from a typical American family and begins using their real-life exploits for plots. He begins to feel guilty when he falls in love with a pretty member of the family.
- DirectorS. Sylvan SimonStarsRed SkeltonAnn RutherfordJean RogersRadio crime show host "The Fox" finds himself on the trail of a serial killer while a suspect himself.
- DirectorLeon BarshaStarsJohn GallaudetIris MeredithGeorge McKayA radio reporter does a story on the infidelity and divorce of a wealthy and powerful businessman. The man invites the reporter to his mansion for a chat, but when he gets there, he finds that the businessman has been murdered--and that now he himself is on the killer's hit list.
- DirectorNick GrindeMalcolm St. ClairEdward SedgwickStarsWilliam HainesCharles KingMary DoranA radio announcer suspects a cohort of sending coded messages over the air to his bank-robber friends.
- DirectorAlexander HallGeorge SomnesStarsClaudette ColbertRicardo CortezDavid MannersWhen she can't support her illegitimate child, an abandoned young woman puts her up for adoption and pursues a career as a torch singer.
- DirectorLloyd BaconStarsDick PowellJoan BlondellAdolphe MenjouDick Purcell is an American taxi driver who wants to become a singer promoting cheese products. Oddly he thinks the way to do it is to become a gondolier from Venice. Along the way he sings and woos a sassy secretary Alice.
- DirectorPhil RosenStarsRalph ForbesVivienne OsborneArnold GrayA handsome radio singer has it all--fame, money, adoring fans--but what no one knows is that his accompanist, a hunchbacked piano player, is actually the voice behind the arrogant, abusive "singer"'s fame.
- DirectorAlfred J. GouldingStarsRuth EttingHerbert RawlinsonRenee WhitneyRuth, is on tour and singing on the radio, unknown to her husband, as The Dixie Song Bird. Herbert Rawlinson, her husband writes the Dixie Song Bird a fan letter that indicates he may a bit of a philandering spouse. While Ruth knocks out a few songs he has some explaining to do.
- DirectorArchie MayoStarsAlice FayeJack OakieJohn PayneAfter WWI two men go into radio. Failure leads the wife of one to borrow money from another; she goes on, after separation, to stardom. A coast-to-coast radio program is set up to bring everyone back together.
- DirectorMervyn LeRoyStarsMarion DaviesPat O'BrienDick PowellA chambermaid impersonates the fictional subject of a composite photo that won a beauty contest, with whom a famed aviator falls in love.
- DirectorHarry BeaumontStarsWilliam HainesMadge EvansAnita PageA radio writer/producer accidentally kills his wife, then attempts to escape the on-air hunt for him.
- DirectorS. Sylvan SimonStarsLana TurnerRichard CarlsonArtie Shaw and His OrchestraAfter discovering his star dancer is expecting and can't perform, film producer H.W. Workman and his publicist concoct a scheme to stage a college dance contest to find a new star.
- DirectorS. Sylvan SimonStarsLana TurnerJoan BlondellGeorge MurphyEddie sells his song to a Broadway producer and also lands a job dancing in the musical. He sends for his dance partner-fiancée Molly who brings her younger sister Pat. Upon seeing Molly and Pat dance, the producer picks Pat for the show and gives Molly a job selling cigarettes. A wealthy friend of the producer named Chad, also has is eye on Pat. Pat is teamed with Eddie in the specialty number as Kerns and Mahoney. Pat and Eddie soon realize that they are in love and must tell Molly. Pat balks at hurting Molly and goes out with Chad who already has five ex-wives.
- DirectorS. Sylvan SimonStarsLana TurnerJoan BlondellGeorge MurphyEddie sells his song to a Broadway producer and also lands a job dancing in the musical. He sends for his dance partner-fiancée Molly who brings her younger sister Pat. Upon seeing Molly and Pat dance, the producer picks Pat for the show and gives Molly a job selling cigarettes. A wealthy friend of the producer named Chad, also has is eye on Pat. Pat is teamed with Eddie in the specialty number as Kerns and Mahoney. Pat and Eddie soon realize that they are in love and must tell Molly. Pat balks at hurting Molly and goes out with Chad who already has five ex-wives.
- DirectorSidney LanfieldStarsRay MillandPaulette GoddardRoland YoungDastardly criminals have stolen some top secret plans and tattooed them on the back of a woman so she can sell them to the highest bidder in Lisbon. This woman plans to take the place of a 'Sidney Royce', a legitimate traveler going to Lisbon as a reporter. Crossed signals allows the real Sidney to reach Portugal first, where she is pursued by those trying to obtain the plans and US government agents trying to prevent the sale.
- DirectorJoseph SantleyStarsGene RaymondAnn SothernJessie RalphA stubborn young woman hires a struggling singer to play her obnoxious suitor in a scheme to overturn her father's objections to the man she really wants to marry.
- DirectorWilliam BeaudineStarsRobert LoweryDona DrakeTim RyanJimmy O'Brien (Robert Lowery) and Sammy Rubin (Sidney Miller), write jingle commercials for radio, and meet Mary Adams (Dona Drake) who wants to break into radio as a soloist for a band. The pair take a recording of Tommy Taylor's band and make a record with Mary doing the vocals. Due to an error, 10,000 pressings are made and released by the record company owned by J.P. O'Hara (Tim Ryan). Taylor (Jerry Cooper) has always refused to have a girl singer, and through his agent Herman Strohbach (Robert Kent) threatens to sue Jimmy. Taylor hasn't heard the record but after he does, he changes his mind and instructs Strohbach to find her and sign her to a contract. As a result of a misunderstanding, Strohbach signs Polly Kane (Irene Ryan), O'Hara's wacky secretary. O'Hara doesn't know that Taylor has decided to use Mary as his vocalist, and fires Jimmy and Sammy after they tell him what has happened. Things eventually get straightened out, but Strohbach finds himself with Polly under a personal contract to her.
- DirectorMark SandrichStarsJack BennyFred AllenMary MartinJack Benny is preparing his New Year's Eve radio broadcast but takes time out to take his valet Rochester to meet his girlfriend Josephine arriving on a steamer. Fred Allen and his sister Barbara are also en route to the dock to meet Barbara's daughter Mary, returning from a personal appearance tour in South America. Josephine is her maid. Their cars get involved in an accident and, in a bumping contest, Fred reduces Jack's old Maxwell to junk, and is taken to jail. Mary loses her dress in an accident and Jack offers to get her another one, but winds up being arrested for stealing. Barbara tells Mary that Fred is a nervous wreck because of Jack's continual slander of him on Jack's radio program. Jack hires the Merry Macs away from Fred and Fred decides to go to Miami for a rest. Jack decides to open his radio program from Miami. They meet, have another brawl, and end up in jail again. The two are in a motorboat accident where both are knocked unconscious and Mary, in an effort to end the feud, tells Fred that Jack saved his life. They have dinner together at Fred's apartment and Rochester, whom Fred has hired away from Jack, appears and the feud is on again.
- DirectorRichard RossonStarsLee TracyDiana GibsonPhillip HustonEddie Haines is a radio reporter with Station KBC. He is always getting the scoop, which infuriates those at the New York Star, which happens to employ his ex-girlfriend Mary Bradley. But when Mary is kidnapped while thinking she is getting a scoop on a big story, Eddie and Mary, (ie. the print media and the radio media), must work together to rescue her.
- DirectorAlfred L. WerkerStarsLee TracySally BlanePaul HarveyLos Angeles newspaper reporter Toby Prentiss is continually in trouble with his editor. He is demoted to running the paper's "Miss Lonelyhearts" advice column because he missed the scoop on a major earthquake whilst out on the town. Determined to be fired from the column he starts to give crazy advice to the readers, but this only makes him even more popular.
- DirectorFrank LloydStarsRichard BarthelmessBetty CompsonWilliam HoldenA gangster is put in prison, but finds salvation through music while serving his time. Again on the outside, he finds success elusive and temptations abound.
- DirectorAlfred E. GreenStarsKenny BakerFrank McHughAlice BradyA small town electrician becomes a hit singer in New York and gets involved with a gold digger, a thief, an opera singer and the woman he loves.
- DirectorGeorge MarshallStarsFred MacMurrayEleanor ParkerRichard CarlsonA secretary is sent on a business trip to inform a radio personality he's just inherited two million dollars. She falls for him instantly, but he's on his way to get married.
- DirectorAnthony AsquithStarsClive BrookDiana WynyardRaymond HuntleyHitler's doctor is gradually realizing that the Nazi regime isn't as good as it pretends to be when his friends start disappearing into the camps. His wife is courted by the party and accepts a political post in Berlin. Meanwhile, Dr. Karl decides to try to do something to counteract Nazi propaganda and, with the help of an engineer and a few friends, he sets up the Freedom Radio to hinder Nazi propaganda.
- DirectorCharles BartonStarsAnn MillerBob Crosby OrchestraFreddie Slack and His OrchestraBeverly Ross moderates a 5:30 AM radio show with swing music, dedicated to the local servicemen. Two buddies of her brother have a chance to meet her and both fall in love. One of them is a wealthy sponsor and the other used to be his chauffeur. Before she can decide which one she prefers, the soldiers have their marching orders and are away to their destination.