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Fixer Dugan

  • 19391939
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 8m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
121
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Peggy Shannon, Lee Tracy, and Virginia Weidler in Fixer Dugan (1939)
  • Drama
A young girl is orphaned when her mother, a circus aerialist, is killed in a fall. A rival circus informs the sheriff that the girl is an orphan, and she is subsequently placed in an orphana... Read allA young girl is orphaned when her mother, a circus aerialist, is killed in a fall. A rival circus informs the sheriff that the girl is an orphan, and she is subsequently placed in an orphanage. The circus' manager, known as "The Fixer", determines to help out the girl and punish ... Read allA young girl is orphaned when her mother, a circus aerialist, is killed in a fall. A rival circus informs the sheriff that the girl is an orphan, and she is subsequently placed in an orphanage. The circus' manager, known as "The Fixer", determines to help out the girl and punish the rival circus owner.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
121
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Lew Landers
  • Writers
    • H.C. Potter(play "What's a Fixer For?")
    • Bert Granet(screenplay)
    • Paul Yawitz(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Lee Tracy
    • Virginia Weidler
    • Peggy Shannon
Top credits
  • Director
    • Lew Landers
  • Writers
    • H.C. Potter(play "What's a Fixer For?")
    • Bert Granet(screenplay)
    • Paul Yawitz(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Lee Tracy
    • Virginia Weidler
    • Peggy Shannon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 5User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Bob Burns, Bradley Page, Peggy Shannon, Lee Tracy, and Virginia Weidler in Fixer Dugan (1939)
    Peggy Shannon, Lee Tracy, and Virginia Weidler in Fixer Dugan (1939)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lee Tracy
    Lee Tracy
    • Charlie 'The Fixer' Duganas Charlie 'The Fixer' Dugan
    Virginia Weidler
    Virginia Weidler
    • Ethel Myrtle 'Terry' O'Connellas Ethel Myrtle 'Terry' O'Connell
    Peggy Shannon
    Peggy Shannon
    • Aggie Morenoas Aggie Moreno
    Bradley Page
    Bradley Page
    • A.J. Barvin, Circus Owneras A.J. Barvin, Circus Owner
    William Edmunds
    • Smileyas Smiley
    Edward Gargan
    Edward Gargan
    • Jakeas Jake
    Vinton Hayworth
    Vinton Hayworth
    • Frank Darlowas Frank Darlow
    • (as Jack Arnold)
    Rita La Roy
    Rita La Roy
    • Patricia 'Pat' O'Connellas Patricia 'Pat' O'Connell
    Irene Franklin
    Irene Franklin
    • Janeas Jane
    John Dilson
    John Dilson
    • Steveas Steve
    Edythe Elliott
    • Mrs. Fletcheras Mrs. Fletcher
    Jack Baxley
    • Ringmasteras Ringmaster
    • (uncredited)
    Sonny Bupp
    Sonny Bupp
    • The Boy Chiseleras The Boy Chiseler
    • (uncredited)
    Bob Burns
    Bob Burns
    • The Second Sheriffas The Second Sheriff
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Clarke
    Richard Clarke
    • Circus Member Seeing Lion Releasedas Circus Member Seeing Lion Released
    • (uncredited)
    Gus Glassmire
    • Lawyer Henry Brownas Lawyer Henry Brown
    • (uncredited)
    Ethel Haworth
      Earle Hodgins
      Earle Hodgins
      • Sideshow Barkeras Sideshow Barker
      • (uncredited)
      • Director
        • Lew Landers
      • Writers
        • H.C. Potter(play "What's a Fixer For?")
        • Bert Granet(screenplay)
        • Paul Yawitz(screenplay)
      • All cast & crew
      • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit
      A young girl is orphaned when her mother, a circus aerialist, is killed in a fall. A rival circus informs the sheriff that the girl is an orphan, and she is subsequently placed in an orphanage. The circus' manager, known as "The Fixer", determines to help out the girl and punish the rival circus owner. —frankfob2@yahoo.com
      • circus
      • sheriff
      • orphan
      • orphanage
      • rescue
      • 17 more
      • Plot summary
      • Add synopsis
      • Taglines
        • POPULAR STARS teamed again...against the colorful backdrop of the big top! (Print Ad- Middlesboro Daily News, ((Middlesboro, Ky.)) 17 May 1939)
      • Genre
        • Drama
      • Certificate
        • Approved
      • Parents guide
        • Add content advisory

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        The play originally opened in New Haven, Connecticut, USA on 1 May 1928.
      • Goofs
        A shot in Marysville, Kansas, shows a palm tree outside.
      • Crazy credits
        Opening credits are shown on round, trapeze-catcher platforms.
      • Soundtracks
        Oh Susanna
        (1846)

        Written by Stephen Foster

        Played as background music at the circus

      User reviews5

      Review
      Top review
      6/10
      Circus Girls
      Lee Tracy stars in the title role of Fixer Dugan, barker and all around handyman at a circus who thinks very fast on his feet and has a broad streak of conman in him. The part fits Tracy better than the glove that fitted OJ.

      Top billed act is wire walker Rita LeRoy who's none too happy when lion tamer Peggy Shannon joins the circus. They have a rivalry like Davis and Crawford. But when LeRoy is killed, Shannone takes an interest in raising her daughter Virginia Weidler now left an orphan. Of course Tracy will help, but Shannon has some concern about the values he's imparting.

      Shannon has her own problems as her former boss and rival circus owner Vinton Hayworth is trying to pull a fast one and attach the lions she works with in her act. And there are the juvenile authorities concerned about the atmosphere where Weidler is being raised.

      Made on a budget at RKO that probably would have covered one of the salaries of the cast of The Greatest Show On Earth, this film has a nice quiet charm to it and in its own way is as good a circus film as DeMille's heralded spectacle.

      One thing that I thought was colossally stupid was when Weidler went into the lion's cage to warn Shannon about Hayworth. If she had been raised around a circus she would know better than that. Still it was a hard and almost fatal lesson to learn. But Tracy milked it for all it was worth.

      Fixer Dugan still holds up well and is highly recommended for family audiences.
      helpful•5
      0
      • bkoganbing
      • Jan 14, 2013

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • April 21, 1939 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • United States
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Double Daring
      • Filming locations
        • RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
      • Production company
        • RKO Radio Pictures
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 8 minutes
      • Color
        • Black and White
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.37 : 1

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