A sports store clerk poses as a famous jockey as an advertising stunt, but gets more than he bargained for.A sports store clerk poses as a famous jockey as an advertising stunt, but gets more than he bargained for.A sports store clerk poses as a famous jockey as an advertising stunt, but gets more than he bargained for.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total
- Cora Withering
- (as Minna Gombel)
- Groom
- (as Eddie Anderson)
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
- …
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe on-screen performance of "Say It with a Kiss" (music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Johnny Mercer), featuring Maxine Sullivan, Louis Armstrong (trumpet only) and Dick Powell, was cut from this film. The melody is played in the background. Victor Records issued a solo version by Miss Sullivan. In addition, notable recordings were made by Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra for Brunswick, and by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra (vocal by Helen Forrest) for Bluebird. Another Mercer-Warren song, "They Say," was written for the film but deleted from the final cut; it was supposed to be Dick Powell's big ballad feature but in the end survived only instrumentally in the background score. It too was recorded by Artie Shaw with Helen Forrest, and Teddy Wilson with Billie Holiday, and was also recorded by Ethel Waters.
- Quotes
Ellen Parker: [running towards her horse's stall] There's Lady Ellen! Hello there, girl-how are you?
[to Peter]
Ellen Parker: She's my pet - was named after me.
Peter Mason: Oh, that's nice.
Ellen Parker: Isn't she lovely? Look at her coloring!
Peter Mason: [looking at Ellen] Lovely coloring...
Ellen Parker: And such soulful eyes.
Peter Mason: [still looking at Ellen] Beautiful hair...
Ellen Parker: Hair? Are you talking about the mane?
Peter Mason: Oh, oh, the mane! Oh, yes, I should remember the Maine.
- ConnectionsFeatured in American Masters: Satchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong (1989)
- SoundtracksJeepers Creepers
(1938) (uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Played during the opening credits and often in the score
Played on trumpet and Sung by Louis Armstrong
Briefly reprised by Dick Powell in the race
As for the story, Powell plays Peter Mason, a sporting goods salesman at Detridge & Frome, with Franklin Dexter (Catlett) as his fellow assistant. Because Peter feels that not being able to sell their sporting goods is hurting business, he goes to Walter Frome (Robert Warwick), president of the company about this situation, and it is suggested that the store should advertise in order to improve sales and send someone to the Maryland steeple chase to demonstrate the horse riding outfits. Unable to get Peter Randall, the best gentleman rider in the world now vacationing in Australia, to do the demonstrating (and since the company has the rights to his name in advertising), it is suggested that Peter stand in and pose as Randall, with Dexter acting as his valet. Peter and Dexter then drive over to Maryland with a stock of sporting goods as an advertising stunt. Arriving at the hotel there, Peter makes the acquaintance a couple of Peter Randall fans, Cora Withering (Minna Gombell), and her beautiful niece, Ellen Parker (Anita Louise), who both know of the famous Peter Randall, but don't know of his physical appearance. Because of this pretense, Peter finds himself talked into riding Ellen's horse, Jeepers Creepers, in an upcoming race, causing Peter, who is terribly afraid of horses, to get the creepers. Along the way, Peter and Dexter encounter of race track gamblers down on their luck, Maxie (Harold Huber) and Droopy (Allen Jenkins), who insist that Peter ride in the race so they can collect on the winnings.
Featured in the supporting cast are: Ronald Reagan as Jack Withering; Larry Williams as Frank Kendall; Thurston Hall as Colonel Harvey Withering; Joyce Compton as Jean; Eddie Anderson as George; Louie Armstrong as Gabriel; and Maxine Sullivan as a maid and specialty singer.
With the music and lyrics by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer, the songs are as follows: "Jeepers Creepers" (sung by Louis Armstrong); "Say It With a Kiss" (very briefly sung by Dick Powell on the piano/ possibly a deleted song or number); "Oh, What a Horse Was Charley" (sung by Dick Powell, Walter Catlett, Allen Jenkins and Harold Huber); and "Mutiny in the Nursery" (sung by Louie Armstrong, Dick Powell, Anita Louise, Maxine Sullivan and others). Of the four tunes, only "Jeepers Creepers" remains the most memorable, being honored for an Academy Award as Best Song for 1939, losing to "Over the Rainbow" from THE WIZARD OF OZ (MGM). The "Oh, What a Horse Was Charley" segment is quite amusing, in which Powell tries to prove to Jenkins and Huber that he is only a composer, not the famous horse rider. In order to convince them, Powell, along with Catlett, make up the words to his new composition, ending with all four men participating in the song with their own "made up" lyrics, ending with Huber and Jenkins playing horsey and galloping out of the hotel room. "Mutiny in the Nursery" is a catchy but not-to-memorable jive number featuring nursery rhymes, including "Little Bo-Peep" to the lyrics.
In spite of some of its shortcomings, GOING PLACES is highlighted with several funny sequences, including two segments where Powell rides Jeepers Creepers, first accidentally landing on the horse's back by falling from the top of the barn, going about the country road minus a saddle, giving the people the impression of what a great rider he is while all along he is quite fearful and wants to get off. The climatic race is equally funny when Powell, Jockey # 13, rides Jeepers Creepers only to have the horse run off the track and around town, rushing through the back yards of residences and laundry lines, followed by the overly familiar routine where the horse runs through the ditch, causing the ditch-diggers to flop out one by one. With the help of the bugle playing Louie Armstrong and his musician friends, orchestrating to the tune "Jeepers Creepers," does the wild horse tame itself and return to the track where it belongs. Many of the comic gags presented here are standard and typical for the likes of such comedians as the Marx Brothers (A DAY AT THE RACES, 1937) or Abbott and Costello (IT AIN'T HAY, 1943), but in watching Powell doing the same makes GOING PLACES, which can be seen on cable television's Turner Classic Movies, both interesting viewing at 84 minutes, as well as a real curio. (***)
- lugonian
- Sep 19, 2003
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Hoppla vi rider!
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 24 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1