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Scatterbrain

  • 19401940
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 13m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
50
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Luis Alberni, Judy Canova, Ruth Donnelly, and Eddie Foy Jr. in Scatterbrain (1940)
  • Comedy
Eddie MacIntyre is a press agent, talent scout and right-hand man to J.R.Russell, Producer/Director of Perfection Pictures, is planning a scheme in which he will "plant" his girl friend, act... Read allEddie MacIntyre is a press agent, talent scout and right-hand man to J.R.Russell, Producer/Director of Perfection Pictures, is planning a scheme in which he will "plant" his girl friend, actress Esther Harrington in the Ozark mountains and then "discover" her for the role of "Rut... Read allEddie MacIntyre is a press agent, talent scout and right-hand man to J.R.Russell, Producer/Director of Perfection Pictures, is planning a scheme in which he will "plant" his girl friend, actress Esther Harrington in the Ozark mountains and then "discover" her for the role of "Ruthybelle" in Perfection's upcoming production, "Thunder Over the Ozarks." With the full app... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
50
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Gus Meins
  • Writers
    • Val Burton(original screenplay)
    • Jack Townley(original screenplay)
    • Paul Conlan(additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Judy Canova
    • Alan Mowbray
    • Ruth Donnelly
Top credits
  • Director
    • Gus Meins
  • Writers
    • Val Burton(original screenplay)
    • Jack Townley(original screenplay)
    • Paul Conlan(additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Judy Canova
    • Alan Mowbray
    • Ruth Donnelly
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 3User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos9

    Alan Mowbray in Scatterbrain (1940)
    Judy Canova in Scatterbrain (1940)
    Judy Canova in Scatterbrain (1940)
    Judy Canova, Eddie Foy Jr., Billy Gilbert, and Alan Mowbray in Scatterbrain (1940)
    Luis Alberni, Judy Canova, Joseph Cawthorn, and Isabel Jewell in Scatterbrain (1940)
    Judy Canova, Ruth Donnelly, Eddie Foy Jr., Gene Haas, Isabel Jewell, Alta Lee, Emmett Lynn, Matty Malneck, Alan Mowbray, Cal Shrum, Walt Shrum, Gibby Gibson, and Cal Shrum's Gang in Scatterbrain (1940)
    Judy Canova, Ruth Donnelly, Wallace Ford, Eddie Foy Jr., Marjorie Kane, Matty Malneck, Marion Martin, and Cliff Nazarro in Scatterbrain (1940)
    Judy Canova, Eddie Foy Jr., Emmett Lynn, and Marion Martin in Scatterbrain (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Judy Canova
    Judy Canova
    • Judy Hullas Judy Hull
    Alan Mowbray
    Alan Mowbray
    • J.R. Russellas J.R. Russell
    Ruth Donnelly
    Ruth Donnelly
    • Miss Stevensas Miss Stevens
    Eddie Foy Jr.
    Eddie Foy Jr.
    • Eddie MacIntyreas Eddie MacIntyre
    Joseph Cawthorn
    Joseph Cawthorn
    • Nicholas Raptisas Nicholas Raptis
    Wallace Ford
    Wallace Ford
    • Sam Maxwellas Sam Maxwell
    Isabel Jewell
    Isabel Jewell
    • Esther Harringtonas Esther Harrington
    Luis Alberni
    Luis Alberni
    • Prof. DeLemmaas Prof. DeLemma
    Billy Gilbert
    Billy Gilbert
    • Hoffmanas Hoffman
    Emmett Lynn
    • Pappy Hullas Pappy Hull
    Jimmy Starr
    • Joe Keltonas Joe Kelton
    Matty Malneck
    • Orchestra Leaderas Orchestra Leader
    The Texas Rangers
    • Musiciansas Musicians
    • (as KCBS-Texas Rangers)
    Cal Shrum's Gang
    • Hillbilly Musiciansas Hillbilly Musicians
    Johnny Arthur
    Johnny Arthur
      Eddie Bilby
        Hal Blair
        • Musicianas Musician
        • (uncredited)
        Billy Bletcher
        Billy Bletcher
          • Director
            • Gus Meins
          • Writers
            • Val Burton(original screenplay)
            • Jack Townley(original screenplay)
            • Paul Conlan(additional dialogue)
          • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
          • All cast & crew

          Storyline

          Edit
          Eddie MacIntyre is a press agent, talent scout and right-hand man to J.R.Russell, Producer/Director of Perfection Pictures, is planning a scheme in which he will "plant" his girl friend, actress Esther Harrington in the Ozark mountains and then "discover" her for the role of "Ruthybelle" in Perfection's upcoming production, "Thunder Over the Ozarks." With the full approval of Nicholas Raptis, Goldwynian president of Perfection Pictures, Eddie farms Esther out to a hillbilly family where she is to remain until she is "discovered"---a discovery to be accompanied by fanfare and publicity. Russell has heard a recording or Esther's voice, but he has never seen her, and when he arrives in the Ozarks he "discovers" the wrong girl and signs up Judy Hull, daughter of the hillbilly family, instead of Esther. The mistake is not discovered until Judy and her Pappy arrive in Hollywood, and she becomes Perfection's Public Problem Number One. Because there are no loopholes in her contract, Perfection is obligated to use her, but if they do her hillbilly antics will make them the laughing stock of the industry. Or so they think. But they finally discover a loophole that reads her contract is null and void if she marries before the film is produced. Russell informs Eddie that it is up to him to court and marry Judy so the contract can be voided. But Eddie's plan is to hire Professor De Lemma, a specialist in mind transference, to persuade Judy that she doesn't want to be a movie star and wants to return home to her cows, pigs and chickens. But Judy does want to be a movie star, and Pappy has sold the farm, become a part of the Hollywood colony and is playing polo with producers named Darrell. —Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>
          • singing
          • Plot summary
          • Add synopsis
          • Taglines
            • A SCREAMINGLY FUNNY JAMBOREE OF GAIETY AND MUSIC! (print ad - Lubbock Morning Avalanche - Broadway Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - September 28, 1940 - all caps)
          • Genre
            • Comedy
          • Certificate
            • Approved
          • Parents guide
            • Add content advisory

          Did you know

          Edit
          • Quotes

            Eddie MacIntyre: Listen, boss, I'll never give you any more ideas.

            J.R. Russell: That's a promise?

          • Soundtracks
            Scatter-Brain
            Written by Johnny Burke and Frankie Masters

            Sung by Judy Canova

          User reviews3

          Review
          Top review
          The Jenny Lind of the Ozarks goes to Hollywood.
          The story has Eddie MacIntyre (Eddie Foy, Jr.)as a press agent, talent scout and right-hand man to J.R.Russell (Alan Mowbray), Producer/Director of Perfection Pictures, planning a scheme in which he will "plant" his girl friend, actress Esther Harrington (Isabel Jewell) in the Ozark mountains and then "discover" her for the role of "Ruthybelle" in Perfection's upcoming production, "Thunder Over the Ozarks." With the full approval of Nicholas Raptis (Joseph Cawthorn), Goldwynian president of Perfection Pictures, Eddie farms Esther out to a hillbilly family where she is to remain until she is "discovered"---a discovery to be accompanied by fanfare and publicity.

          Russell has heard a recording or Esther's voice, but he has never seen her, and when he arrives in the Ozarks he "discovers" the wrong girl and signs up Judy Hull (Judy Canova), daughter of the hillbilly family, instead of Esther.

          The mistake is not discovered until Judy and her Pappy (Emmett Lynn) arrive in Hollywood, and she becomes Perfection's Public Problem Number One. Because there are no loopholes in her contract, Perfection is obligated to use her, but if they do her hillbilly antics will make them the laughing stock of the industry. Or so they think.

          But they finally discover a loophole that reads her contract is null and void if she marries before the film is produced. Russell informs Eddie that it is up to him to court and marry Judy so the contract can be voided. But Eddie's plan is to hire Professor De Lemma (Billy Gilbert), a specialist in mind transference, to persuade Judy that she doesn't want to be a movie star and wants to return home to her cows, pigs and chickens.

          But Judy does want to be a movie star, and Pappy has sold the farm, become a part of the Hollywood colony and is playing polo with producers named Darrell and such.

          It all works out. The producer played by Joseph Cawthorn talks slightly backwards and never knows what he wants when he wants it. Republic goes out of their way in the press releases to say that the character is "a thinly disguised prototype of Sam Goldwyn", without the quote marks.

          What Sam Goldwyn thought of that is unrecorded. Probably asked if they spelled his name correctly. And the polo-playing producer wasn't that far off from Darryl F. Zanuck either...especially since he was named Darrell.
          helpful•2
          0
          • horn-5
          • Nov 29, 2005

          Details

          Edit
          • Release date
            • July 20, 1940 (United States)
          • Country of origin
            • United States
          • Language
            • English
          • Also known as
            • Direkt från vischan
          • Filming locations
            • Republic Studios - 4024 Radford Avenue, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
          • Production company
            • Republic Pictures (I)
          • See more company credits at IMDbPro

          Technical specs

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          • Runtime
            1 hour 13 minutes
          • Color
            • Black and White
          • Aspect ratio
            • 1.37 : 1

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