Broadway Bill (1934)

70% of users liked it
(84 ratings)

Just after completing It Happened One Night, director Frank Capra churned out a bread-and-butter picture titled Broadway Bill. Warner Baxter plays the carefree scion of a wealthy, highly-respected family. Baxter's cold but socially correct wife Helen Vinson forces her husband into the family… More Just after completing It Happened One Night, director Frank Capra churned out a bread-and-butter picture titled Broadway Bill. Warner Baxter plays the carefree scion of a wealthy, highly-respected family. Baxter's cold but socially correct wife Helen Vinson forces her husband into the family business, but Baxter would rather spend his time at the racetrack. He buys a nag named Broadway Bill and tries to build the horse into a winner--if he doesn't bankrupt himself first. Only Baxter's sister-in-law Myrna Loy and black stable hand Clarence Muse have faith in Broadway Bill. The horse wins a crucial race, but dies suddenly at the finish line. Baxter is comforted and given encouragement by Loy, who is now his sweetheart, Vinson having long since washed her hands of her "irresponsible" husband. Broadway Bill was remade by Capra as Riding High (1950), utilizing generous portions of stock footage and even going so far as to rehire several of the original film's cast members (Douglass Dumbrille, Clarence Muse, Charles Lane, Raymond Walburn, Margaret Hamilton, Frankie Darro) to recreate their roles and match up their scenes from the earlier production. Long withheld from distribution due to Riding High, Broadway Bill was made available for videocassette in the mid-1980s. Keep an eye out for Lucille Ball as a blonde telephone operator and Alan Hale Sr. as a racetrack announcer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Frank Capra
Written By: Robert Riskin
Genres: Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 21, 1934 Wide
On DVD: Aug 31, 2004

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Fine, early Capra--basis for later Crosby musical 'Riding High' (also Capra directed).
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Early Capra comedy that's worn well.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Loy is cute in this movie. Although the story is predictable and I really don't like horse movies, this movie was entertaining, well acted, and funny at times.

Cast

            Warner Baxter as Dan Brooks

            Myrna Loy as Alice Higgins

            Walter Connolly as J.L. Higgins

            Helen Vinson as Margaret Brooks

            Douglas Dumbrille as Eddie Morgan

            Raymond Walburn as Colonel Pettigrew

            Lynne Overman as Happy McGuire

            Clarence Muse as Whitey

            Margaret Hamilton as Edna

            Frankie Darro as Ted Williams

            Inez Courtney as Mae nurse

            Ernie S. Adams as Patient

            Robert (Tex) Allen as Reporter

            Irving Bacon as Hotdog stand owner

            Lucille Ball as Bit Part

            Herman Bing as Waiter

            James "Doc" Blakely as Interne

            Clara Blandick as Mrs. Peterson secretary

            Stanley Blystone as Jailer

            Ward Bond as Morgan's henchman

            Harry C. Bradley as Bookkeeper

            Edmund Breese as Presiding judge

            Eddy Chandler as Onlooker

            Helen Flint as Mrs. Early

            Bess Flowers as Secretary

            Claude Gillingwater as J.P. Chase

            Kit Guard as Cab driver

            Alan Hale as Orchestra leader

            Forrester Harvey as Horse trainer

            Paul Harvey as James Whitehall

            J. Frank Holliday as Deputy sheriff

            Harry Holman as Rube

            John Ince as Mayor

            Edward Keane as Headwaiter

            George Meeker as Henry Early

            Charles B. Middleton as Veterinarian

            Helene Millard as Mrs. Winslow

            Jason Robards Sr. as Arthur Winslow

            Tom Ricketts as Johnson the butler

            Harry Semels as Conductor

            Joan Standing as Secretary

            William Strauss as Pawnbroker

            Harry Todd as Pop Jones

            Charles C. Wilson as Collins

            George Cooper as Joe

            Charles Lane as Morgan's henchman

            Dennis O'Keefe
            
            Gladys Gale as Head nurse

            Ky Robinson as Deputy sheriff

            Douglass Dumbrille
            
See full cast