A Hollywood playboy helps a small-town girl achieve stardom.A Hollywood playboy helps a small-town girl achieve stardom.A Hollywood playboy helps a small-town girl achieve stardom.
Robert Paige
- Bert Smith
- (as David Carlyle)
Joan Valerie
- Ruth - Secretary
- (as Helen Valkis)
Frank Faylen
- Master of Ceremonies
- (scenes deleted)
Eddie Acuff
- Musselman - Writer
- (uncredited)
Joan Blondell
- Joan Blondell - Benefit Show Guest
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaCraig Reynolds, who appears briefly in the benefit sequence at the Cocoanut Grove, was originally cast as the star of this movie, but caught the flu and was replaced by Donald Woods.
- SoundtracksIn the Silent Picture Days
(1937) (uncredited)
Music by M.K. Jerome
Lyrics by Jack Scholl
Sung by Jeanne Madden in a Burlesque show
Reprised by her in a screen test
Featured review
Another supposedly behind the scenes picture about a country girl becoming a big-time actress.
"Talent Scout" is a B-movie from Warner Brothers. A B was a film intended as a second and cheaper movie in a double-feature. Many today think this means B-pictures were bad...this is not necessarily the case. Some Bs were terrific despite shorter run-times and lower budgets and lesser actors. Is "Talent Scout" a good B?
A fast-talking talent scout, Steve Stewart (Donald Woods), is having trouble finding good prospects for Apex Pictures. But when he sees and hears Mary (Jeanne Madden) singing in a small town, he's sure she'll make it in pictures and brings her to Hollywood. Unfortunately, her initial impression is poor and the studio passes on offering her a contract. But after singing at a local nightclub, her future is secure...as she's discovered by the boss' boss who immediately signs her. Is everything happily ever after now? Well, there are some hickups...including Steve AND a famous actor falling for her!
There is some irony to this film, as Jeanne Madden never did become a star....making just this and two other pictures. I can understand why, as her style of singing is not most folks' taste nor did she have the looks or screen presence of a star. I am sure she was a nice person in real life...but here she just seems a bit unconvincing as a vivacious big-time actress.
Despite this problem the film is quite watchable and a decent time-passer. Donald Woods comes off a bit better...and he did have a pretty substantial career. Worth seeing and clever at times...but also not much more than a film that pleases...just not too much.
A fast-talking talent scout, Steve Stewart (Donald Woods), is having trouble finding good prospects for Apex Pictures. But when he sees and hears Mary (Jeanne Madden) singing in a small town, he's sure she'll make it in pictures and brings her to Hollywood. Unfortunately, her initial impression is poor and the studio passes on offering her a contract. But after singing at a local nightclub, her future is secure...as she's discovered by the boss' boss who immediately signs her. Is everything happily ever after now? Well, there are some hickups...including Steve AND a famous actor falling for her!
There is some irony to this film, as Jeanne Madden never did become a star....making just this and two other pictures. I can understand why, as her style of singing is not most folks' taste nor did she have the looks or screen presence of a star. I am sure she was a nice person in real life...but here she just seems a bit unconvincing as a vivacious big-time actress.
Despite this problem the film is quite watchable and a decent time-passer. Donald Woods comes off a bit better...and he did have a pretty substantial career. Worth seeing and clever at times...but also not much more than a film that pleases...just not too much.
helpful•42
- planktonrules
- Sep 12, 2020
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Studio Romance
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 2 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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![Fred Lawrence, Jeanne Madden, and Donald Woods in Talent Scout (1937)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZGEyMDA4YWItMzM2MC00ZjMzLTgyOGYtNWJmOTQyZTk3MDEwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjA5MTAzODY@._V1_QL75_UX90_CR0,4,90,133_.jpg)