Blessed Event (1932)

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Blessed Event is one of several early-1930s films inspired by the meteoric rise to fame of gossip columnist Walter Winchell--and like most such films, its title is based on a Winchell tag line. Lee Tracy plays a glib-tongued reporter who is conducting a feud with popular singer Dick Powell (making… More Blessed Event is one of several early-1930s films inspired by the meteoric rise to fame of gossip columnist Walter Winchell--and like most such films, its title is based on a Winchell tag line. Lee Tracy plays a glib-tongued reporter who is conducting a feud with popular singer Dick Powell (making his film debut). Along the way, Tracy offends a powerful gangster, and in so doing becomes entangled with chorus girl Mary Brian. The film is at its best when parodying commercial radio of the era (notably an inane jingle for "Shapiro Shoes" warbled by Dick Powell). The original Broadway stage version of Blessed Event was written by Manuel Seff and Forrest Wilson--and reportedly inspired by the career of Ruby Keeler, who rose to stardom thanks in part to the patronage of a New York mobster. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 17 min.
Directed By: Roy Del Ruth
Written By: Howard J. Green
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1932 Wide
On DVD: Mar 17, 1993

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Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Blessed Event" is a breezy romp through the insane world of tabloid journalism that starts with Louis Miller(Walter Walker) receiving a ton of complaints about the recent gossip columns by George Moxley(Ned Sparks) in his newspaper. He is relieved to… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Blessed Event" is a breezy romp through the insane world of tabloid journalism that starts with Louis Miller(Walter Walker) receiving a ton of complaints about the recent gossip columns by George Moxley(Ned Sparks) in his newspaper. He is relieved to hear that Moxley is on vacation and that Alvin Roberts(Lee Tracy) has been writing them in the interim. Roberts' specialty and what has been angering his audience so much is the announcement of pregnancies in New York society. Ironically, it is implied that such an announcement would never be made for Roberts' biggest target, bandleader Bunny Harmon(Dick Powell). Happy at the attention the paper has been receiving, Miller promotes Roberts to full time. This decision leads to a huge increase in circulation for the newspaper.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Just remember one thing. It is all fun and games until somebody gets hurt or threatened by a gangster. This just goes to show you that nothing much has changed.[/font]

Cast

            Lee Tracy as Alvin Roberts

            Mary Brian as Gladys

            Allen Jenkins as Frankie Wells

            Ruth Donnelly as Miss Stevens

            Ned Sparks as Moxley

            Dick Powell as Bunny Harmon

            Milton Wallace as Moskowitz

            Edwin Maxwell as Goebel

            Emma Dunn as Mrs. Roberts

            Isabel Jewell as Dorothy

            George Chandler as Hanson

            Frank McHugh as Reilly

            Tom Dugan as Cooper

            Walter Miller as Boldt

            William Halligan as Herbert Flint

            George Meeker as Church

            Reginald Barlow
            
            Herman Bing as Emil

            Jesse De Vorska as Sapiro

            Bobby Gordon as Office Boy

            Ruth Hall as Miss Bauman

            Lew Harvey as Joe

            Jack LaRue as Louis De Marco

            Harold Waldridge as Bell Boy

            Walter Walker as Louis Miller
See full cast

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