IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
After a mix-up with his application photograph, an aspiring actor is invited to a test screening and goes off to Hollywood.After a mix-up with his application photograph, an aspiring actor is invited to a test screening and goes off to Hollywood.After a mix-up with his application photograph, an aspiring actor is invited to a test screening and goes off to Hollywood.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
Eddie Fetherston
- Bill - Assistant Director
- (as Eddie Fetherstone)
DeWitt Jennings
- Mr. Hall
- (as De Witt Jennings)
Bruce Bennett
- Dinner Guest
- (uncredited)
Jack Chefe
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
Edmund Cobb
- Harold's Classmate Bill
- (uncredited)
James Ford
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
Wally Howe
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaClyde Bruckman is the credited director, but most of the film was actually directed by Harold Lloyd due to Bruckman's often being incapacitated due to his alcoholism.
- GoofsDuring flood/fight scene, "Vance" has a noose wrapped around his ankle. As the scene progresses, Vance is seen kneeling with no rope attached. In the next scene, the rope is again around his ankle as the fight continues.
- Quotes
Radio Broadcaster: [First lines] You have been listening to the Voice of Hollywood. That enchanted town. Here is the place where adventure came riding in on the magic rug and spilled its magic on those below. Where else can fame spread her wings so fast? The youth today is a star tomorrow. All is gay!
- Alternate versions1953 re-release version through Monarch Films is edited to 79 minutes. This was the only version shown on television for years. In April 2003 Turner Classic Movies channel premiered the newly restored version, mastered by the UCLA Film & Television Archive from the original film elements. This version is fully restored and runs 98 minutes.
- ConnectionsFeatured in World of Comedy (1962)
Featured review
Good Comedy, Wonderful Pairing of Lloyd With Constance Cummings
This is a good comedy, possibly Harold Lloyd's best sound movie, and it features a very nice pairing of Lloyd with Constance Cummings. It's also interesting and entertaining as a light commentary on the movie industry of its day, and the ways that it was perceived. The extreme eagerness of Lloyd's character to break into the movies is interwoven with the main romantic plot in some clever ways.
The story has Lloyd's character leaving his Kansas home and heading to Hollywood, where he winds up having a chaotic and very funny romance with a star actress played by Cummings. There are a lot of funny gag ideas, some very nice scenes between the two stars, and quite a bit more, capped off by the kind of funny, exciting set piece that you always hope for as the finale in one of Lloyd's movies.
Cummings is very appealing and enjoyable, and she has a lot of good material to work with, as the script sets up a good contrast between her screen character and her real personality. This contrast is used very creatively in the plot, and the effect is aided considerably by how well Cummings and Lloyd work together in all of their scenes. The actress's affectionate nickname of 'Trouble' for Lloyd's character works well, too. Their interplay is the best part of a good comedy that also has a lot of other things working for it.
The story has Lloyd's character leaving his Kansas home and heading to Hollywood, where he winds up having a chaotic and very funny romance with a star actress played by Cummings. There are a lot of funny gag ideas, some very nice scenes between the two stars, and quite a bit more, capped off by the kind of funny, exciting set piece that you always hope for as the finale in one of Lloyd's movies.
Cummings is very appealing and enjoyable, and she has a lot of good material to work with, as the script sets up a good contrast between her screen character and her real personality. This contrast is used very creatively in the plot, and the effect is aided considerably by how well Cummings and Lloyd work together in all of their scenes. The actress's affectionate nickname of 'Trouble' for Lloyd's character works well, too. Their interplay is the best part of a good comedy that also has a lot of other things working for it.
helpful•102
- Snow Leopard
- Feb 20, 2006
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- The Unwilling Magician
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $675,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 24 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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