Apparently insiders predicted that "Once in a Lifetime" would never be filmed - it not only was (by Universal) but Carl Laemmle inserted a forward that went along the lines of people shouldn't be afraid to laugh at themselves. It had been a biting satirical play in the 1930-31 season (over 400 performances) by George S. Kauffman and Moss Hart, burlesquing the tidal wave of hangers on who flooded Hollywood in the early sound days under the name of "Voice Culturists". Vocal coaches were as common in the early talkie days as frightened stars wondering if they could actually talk into a microphone and technicians who were catapulted into positions of power - as they were the only people who knew how the sound equipment worked.
"Talkies Are In - Vaudeville is Out"!!! Three troupers (May, George and Jerry) decide to get in on the ground floor and go to California to become "Elocution Teachers". On the train they run into an old friend of Mays, dizzy Miss Hobart, a gossip columnist and together they storm Hollywood!! George meets starstruck hopeful Susan, who is the highlight of the movie, as she recites "Boots!! Boots!!" at the drop of a hat, much to the delight of her enthralled mother. A meeting with frustrated writer Lawrence Vail causes extremely dumb George to become the studios new "wonder kid". He merely takes Vail's grievances to studio head Glogauer and before you can blink, the stupidest character in the movie is almost running the studio!!!
No wonder it was touch and go whether this play would be filmed but 1932 was light years away from 1928-9 as far as technology went and I suppose it was hoped that people's memories were short. This movie is really an ensemble piece and every actor rose to the occasion. Jack Oakie was excellent as the very dumb Georgie, whose only talent is being able to remember other people's speeches!! Aline Macmahon is May Daniels, the girl who hits upon the elocution idea in the first place and manages to keep her integrity through thick and thin. The under rated Russell Hopton is Jerry who "goes Hollywood", Zasu Pitts as the world's dumbest receptionist, Louise Fazenda, who for a few years specialized in very ditzy roles - she plays Miss Hobart. There is Onslow Stevens as Lawrence Vail, who at the end is on a train to the sanitarium "where all good writers go". Margaret Lindsay has a blink and you miss her part as George's secretary and Mona Maris really vamps as the Vamp. Gregory Ratoff plays Glogauer, the studio owner, magnificent Jobyna Howland playing a monstrous stage mother as only she can. And last but not least, sweet Sidney Fox, in her best performance as a talentless starlet - satirizing the type of role she often played.
Highly, Highly Recommended.
"Talkies Are In - Vaudeville is Out"!!! Three troupers (May, George and Jerry) decide to get in on the ground floor and go to California to become "Elocution Teachers". On the train they run into an old friend of Mays, dizzy Miss Hobart, a gossip columnist and together they storm Hollywood!! George meets starstruck hopeful Susan, who is the highlight of the movie, as she recites "Boots!! Boots!!" at the drop of a hat, much to the delight of her enthralled mother. A meeting with frustrated writer Lawrence Vail causes extremely dumb George to become the studios new "wonder kid". He merely takes Vail's grievances to studio head Glogauer and before you can blink, the stupidest character in the movie is almost running the studio!!!
No wonder it was touch and go whether this play would be filmed but 1932 was light years away from 1928-9 as far as technology went and I suppose it was hoped that people's memories were short. This movie is really an ensemble piece and every actor rose to the occasion. Jack Oakie was excellent as the very dumb Georgie, whose only talent is being able to remember other people's speeches!! Aline Macmahon is May Daniels, the girl who hits upon the elocution idea in the first place and manages to keep her integrity through thick and thin. The under rated Russell Hopton is Jerry who "goes Hollywood", Zasu Pitts as the world's dumbest receptionist, Louise Fazenda, who for a few years specialized in very ditzy roles - she plays Miss Hobart. There is Onslow Stevens as Lawrence Vail, who at the end is on a train to the sanitarium "where all good writers go". Margaret Lindsay has a blink and you miss her part as George's secretary and Mona Maris really vamps as the Vamp. Gregory Ratoff plays Glogauer, the studio owner, magnificent Jobyna Howland playing a monstrous stage mother as only she can. And last but not least, sweet Sidney Fox, in her best performance as a talentless starlet - satirizing the type of role she often played.
Highly, Highly Recommended.