Joan Blondell teaches Leslie Howard the ways of Hollywood.
Quick! What is widely considered to be the highest-grossing film of all time?
You knew the answer, didn’t you? We bet you didn’t even have to Google it.
You see, this is why Hollywood is Serious Business; movies are valued by how much money they make. So it’s a treat when Hollywood pokes a little fun at itself, as it did in the 1937 comedy Stand-In.
Stand-In is the story of an independent Hollywood studio (Colossal Film Company) that is losing money so fast, its financiers want to dump it in a fire sale. However, they decide to give the studio one last chance and dispatch their resident financial wizard, Atterbury Dodd (Leslie Howard), to straighten things out.
In this film, Howard portrays a punctilious efficiency expert who can add a column of six-digit figures in his head in milliseconds. When he arrives in Hollywood, he goes dancing with an actress and has the following conversation:
Actress: “Do you dream, Mr. Dodd?”
Howard: “Not habitually.” [Thinks about it.] “Occasionally. When I have something to eat that disagrees with me.”
Upon his arrival in Hollywood, Howard meets a Miss Plum (Joan Blondell), who impulsively climbs into his cab while it’s waiting at a stop light. Blondell, who is unfailingly cute and funny, explains to Howard that she is a “stand-in”, someone who stands in for the actor while the lights are set up on a movie set. Blondell tells Howard that, as a stand-in, she does the sweating for the star.
Howard realizes he’s the stand-in for the fianciers and, by the time the film concludes, he’ll have done a lot of sweating, too.
There is so much to enjoy in this film. Every character is a treat, including the amusing bellhop who tells Howard that the hotel suite’s bathroom is painted “dramatic jungle red!”
Howard is extremely funny and says his ridiculous lines without a trace of irony. His character’s primary concern is money; there is no time for frippery. When he learns that ruthless movie mogul Mr. Nassau (C. Henry Gordon), is gunning for Colossal, Howard remarks with geekish alarm, “That is a very startling piece of information.”
(Digression #1: This movie was released by United Artists, which was formed in 1919 as a backlash against the studio system. UA was originally created as a distribution company for independent Hollywood filmmakers. It was acquired by MGM in 1981.)
(Digression #2: Before you watch this movie, we must warn you of an uncomfortable scene that involves a harmonica-playing stage mother and her inappropriately-dressed preschool daughter. When the daughter finishes her dance routine, the mother says, “Now do that Mae West number.”)
If you’re in the mood for an amusing send-up of old Hollywood, we recommend Stand-In. It’s movie-making satire that’s been done many times but, as one character remarks, “Great pictures are not made. They are re-made.”
See? Who says Hollywood can’t laugh at itself?
Stand-In: Starring Leslie Howard, Joan Blondell, Humphrey Bogart. Directed by Tay Garnett. Written by Gene Towne & Graham Baker. United Artists Corp., B&W, 1937, 90 mins.
Silver Screenings 
Wow! What a great post. I can’t wait to see this movie.
I recently saw Leslie Howard in Pygmalion. What’s not to like? He has a likeable countenance.
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He DOES have a likable countenance. I like how you put that.
Thanks for dropping by!
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I saw this film once and really enjoyed the humorous script. You can almost see the writters laughing while they write. Howard is such a wonderful actor and it is easy to love him in this role. Thanks for reminding me about this movie, I’m going to be looking to add it to my collection.
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So true! The writers must’ve been killing themselves with laughter when writing this. And Howard is delightful in the way he whole-heartedly embraces this role.
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I love Leslie Howard, but it’s been forever since I’ve seen this one. I’m so in the mood for amusing right now! Thanks for reminding me I need to track this one down again….and maybe a few more Howard movies to go with it. Great post!
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I adore this film. The script is perfect and the casting couldn’t be better. It’s the kind of movie you can watch again and again – and not get tired of the gags.
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I do not remember this one — and I’m not happy about it. How did I manage to let a film with Joan Blondell and Leslie Howard pass me by? I need to correct this. Thanks for the heads-up.
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This movie is one of my faves. Howard and Blondell are pure joy to watch.
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Yet another sparkling post, Ruth! I especially remember Humphrey Bogart and his cute dog in this film.
Happy New Year to you and yours! BTW, I’ve passed on a Blogger of the Year 2012 Award to you! See –
http://thestalkingmoon.weebly.com/5/post/2013/01/happy-new-year.html
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Thanks for the award, Jeff, and for your support.
Here’s to 2013, and one of the best movie blogs on the internet! (Meaning yours, my friend).
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Definitely sounds fun! Will have to try to check it out.
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I hope you get the chance to see it. It’s a real treat!
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SS,
I’m feeling several things right this moment. The first is joy that I’ve been turned on to a film I’ve never heard of. Then there’s my lack of awareness that I’ve somehow missed another classic film starring Leslie Howard. Lastly, I feel worried that I have let my fellow classic film fans down once again. : (
I’ll be adding this one to the list then finding this post to comment with a bit of knowledge. ha ha
Happy New Year!
Page
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Dear, Dear Page:
Never let it be said that you’ve ever let down any classic film fan. Your blog (http://myloveofoldhollywood.blogspot.ca/) clearly demonstrates your passion for, and knowledge of, classic film.
I hope you get a chance to see this Leslie Howard flick – we readers would love your take on it. It would be top-notch, as all your posts are. 🙂
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I’d love to see this one – Bogart and Howard were great friends in real life so it will be fun to see them in a movie together which is more lighthearted than ‘The Petrified Forest’. And with Blondell also starring, it sounds like a must.
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Yes, Howard and Bogart are terrific together in this film. You really get the sense of mutual respect between them. And who could resist a movie with Joan Blondell? She really sparkles.
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Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart… They were great together. I wish they had made more films together
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Me too. They have a lot of chemistry, don’t they? I adore this film… I think it’s time to see it again!
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