The stage play, written by Bella and Samuel Spewack, opened on Broadway at the Times Square on October 14, 1932 and ran 91 performances with Thomas Mitchell in the lead. M-G-M wisely purchased the movie rights as a vehicle for their newly signed lead player, Lee Tracy. Although it would seem to be a perfect vehicle for him, Tracy makes too much of an impression in the lead role. He's certainly not lying down on the job. If anything, he seems to be trying far too hard. His wisecracks are not particularly funny, and I feel they needed to be underplayed – tossed off – rather than given the full Tracy treatment. Certainly, his timing lacks the punch he brought to his dialogue in such Warner Brothers' classics as Blessed Event (1932). I'm a bit surprised that Metro handed this film to producer/director George W. Hill, who was not an expert on comedy. Although he did handle Marie Dressler and Wallace Beery in Min and Bill (1930), he was more at home with movies like The Big House, The Secret Six and Hell Divers. In fact his next movie after Clear was to have been The Good Earth, but he died on August 10, 1934. As for Clear All Wires!, I thought the support cast led by James Gleason, Una Merkel and Benita Hume far more adept than the omni-present Tracy. Available on an excellent Warner DVD.
Review of Clear All Wires!
