Even by 1929 when most studios (especially, amazingly, the little ones that had a "what have we got to lose" attitude) were already embracing "all talkies", many cinemas out in rural areas were not equipped for sound. Wiring a cinema for sound cost money and maybe it was just a passing fad after all MGM hadn't fully embraced it yet with stylish movies like "Our Modern Maidens" and "The Kiss" still only released with musical tracks. So when these rustic cinemas wanted a movie to show, most of the time they were given sound films with inserted titles - these films are easy to recognise, they spend a lot of time with the actors standing around talking, then with a few titles thrown in, usually with the latest wisecracks. Chesterfield got it's start in sound's early days and was easily identifiable from the striking silhouette of Lord Chesterfield.
The two likable stars were Donald Keith who co-starred along with Clara Bow in "The Plastic Age" but whose career was just about over by the end of the 1920s. Pretty Ann Christy looked a better bet, she had been a 1928 Wampas Baby Star whose big achievement was replacing Jobyna Ralston in Harold Lloyd's "Speedy" but she only made a few features and by the time of "Just Off Broadway" her career had dried up.
"Just Off Broadway" - down Liberty Street is where it all happens - bootleggers have their headquarters, as well as it being the hub of the theatre district. Tom Fowler (Keith) is due to take a well earned holiday after a strenuous college year, all courtesy of his generous brother Ed. But unbeknownst to Tom Ed earns his money as a bootlegger, not a high flying lawyer as he claims. And it is about to get pretty nasty as rival racketeer Marty Kirkland (Larry Steers, a very familiar face, usually playing police etc) plans to take over the racket and leaving no prisoners!! Drawn into the ruse is Nan (Christy) a dancer at "Club Rene" who is assigned to show Fowler a good time and keep him at the hotel until Kirkland gets the machine guns at the ready!!
Once Tom learns of his brother's death he is all for going after Kirkland himself and becomes a permanent fixture at the "Club Rene" where he and Nan end up falling for each other. She calls it the "whoopee racket" and while she is nice she is learning the ropes and at the beck and call of Kirkland, the club manager, who secretly plans to ditch the older Rene and install vivacious Nan as the club's new hostess. Still by the time she is called on to lure Tom to certain death, she is determined to save him.
The movie is okay, more of you've seen this sort of theme done a whole lot better but I think, it's the slang and up to the minute (1929 style) phrases that will draw you in. "Take him for a ride" is uttered so many times, as well as "have you got your gats" and a new one "it's just a whoopee racket"!!
Recommended.
The two likable stars were Donald Keith who co-starred along with Clara Bow in "The Plastic Age" but whose career was just about over by the end of the 1920s. Pretty Ann Christy looked a better bet, she had been a 1928 Wampas Baby Star whose big achievement was replacing Jobyna Ralston in Harold Lloyd's "Speedy" but she only made a few features and by the time of "Just Off Broadway" her career had dried up.
"Just Off Broadway" - down Liberty Street is where it all happens - bootleggers have their headquarters, as well as it being the hub of the theatre district. Tom Fowler (Keith) is due to take a well earned holiday after a strenuous college year, all courtesy of his generous brother Ed. But unbeknownst to Tom Ed earns his money as a bootlegger, not a high flying lawyer as he claims. And it is about to get pretty nasty as rival racketeer Marty Kirkland (Larry Steers, a very familiar face, usually playing police etc) plans to take over the racket and leaving no prisoners!! Drawn into the ruse is Nan (Christy) a dancer at "Club Rene" who is assigned to show Fowler a good time and keep him at the hotel until Kirkland gets the machine guns at the ready!!
Once Tom learns of his brother's death he is all for going after Kirkland himself and becomes a permanent fixture at the "Club Rene" where he and Nan end up falling for each other. She calls it the "whoopee racket" and while she is nice she is learning the ropes and at the beck and call of Kirkland, the club manager, who secretly plans to ditch the older Rene and install vivacious Nan as the club's new hostess. Still by the time she is called on to lure Tom to certain death, she is determined to save him.
The movie is okay, more of you've seen this sort of theme done a whole lot better but I think, it's the slang and up to the minute (1929 style) phrases that will draw you in. "Take him for a ride" is uttered so many times, as well as "have you got your gats" and a new one "it's just a whoopee racket"!!
Recommended.
