Fools for Scandal (1938)

Directors:

Mervyn LeRoy
Bobby Connolly

Writers:

Nancy Hamilton (play) &
James L. Shute (play) ...

Release Date:

16 April 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Rene is broke and Kay is a rich actress visiting Paris. They meet, share a cab and dinner. He is smitten by her...

Plot Keywords:

Actress | American Abroad | Big Ben | Carpet | Chef

Cast

Carole Lombard	...	Kay Winters, aka Kay Summers
Fernand Gravey	...	Rene Viladel (as Fernand Gravet)
Ralph Bellamy	...	Phillip 'Phil' Chester
Allen Jenkins	...	Dewey 'Dew' Gibson
Isabel Jeans	...	Lady Paula Augusta Malverton
Marie Wilson	...	Myrtle, Kay's maid
Marcia Ralston	...	Jill
Ottola Nesmith	...	Agnes (as Tola Nesmith)
Heather Thatcher	...	Sylvia Potter-Porter
Jacques Lory	...	Papa Joli-Coeur
Tempe Pigott	...	Bessie, the cook (as Tempe Piggott)
Michelette Burani	...	Mme. Lucien Brioche
Jeni Le Gon	...	Specialty (as Jeni LeGon)
Les Hite	...	Orchestra leader
Les Hite and His Orchestra	...	Themselves

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #3918)

Company:

First National Pictures

Movie Connections:

Spoofs School for Scandal (1930)

Soundtrack:

Fools for Scandal

Blooper outtakes made me want to see this '38 film...

Only because CAROLE LOMBARD and FERNAND GRAVET (he played Johann Strauss in "The Great Waltz") are shown enjoying themselves during a blooper moment on the dinner set of FOOLS FOR SCANDAL (in The Big Breakdowns of '38), did I want to see this romantic comedy. Turns out not to be quite the lark I expected, even though it has the usual Warner contract players in the supporting cast, including RALPH BELLAMY, ALLEN JENKINS, ISABEL JEANS and MARIE Wilson.

In the blooper, Carole had trouble digging into her steak which triggered an outburst from her and giggles from the other players. It was so amusing that I wanted to see the actual scene in the movie.

Unfortunately, FOOLS FOR SCANDAL is the screwiest kind of screwball comedy. None of the characters are the least bit grounded in any kind of reality, strictly cut-outs with dull one-liners as they confront one silly situation after another. The plot is something about a screen actress (Lombard) being stalked by a charming Frenchman whom she eventually hires as a cook. All of her female friends are crazy about him--and she's just, well--crazy. CAROLE LOMBARD plays her role at a fever pitch of fast talking nonsense and FERNAND GRAVET joins the mad pace with good humored sportsmanship. RALPH BELLAMY has his usual third wheel role of a man earnestly in love with Carole but obviously not headed for the altar at the final reel. He plays his role like an eager puppy wanting to please, but the results are still rather meager.

Summing up: Contrived screwball comedy is enjoyable only for the performances of the three leads, but the situations are unbelievable and overacted in the sledgehammer style of acting prevalent in Warner comedies of the '30s.