Hit the Hay
Cast & Crew
Del Lord
Judy Canova
Ross Hunter
Fortunio Bonanova
Doris Merrick
Gloria Holden
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
After opera patron J. Bellingham Parks refuses to donate any more money to his local opera because of a steep decline in profits, managing director Roger Barton reminisces about the days when the audience flocked to see singing star Madge Stevens. Later, when Roger's son and assistant Ted goes to lunch at the farmers' market, he hears hillbilly Judy Stevens singing an aria while milking a cow. Judy explains to Ted that Madge Stevens was her mother and that she was reared by her uncle on a farm in Tennessee while her mother toured the world. Impressed by Judy's singing, Ted hires her to star in the opera and Parks agrees to finance the production. Deciding to exploit Judy's farm background, Ted asks his sweetheart, reporter Sally Mansfield, to write a feature about his discovery of Judy. At a party held in Judy's honor, Mimi Valdez, the star singer in the company, queries Parks's admiring secretary Wilbur Whittlesey about her rival and discovers that Judy's experience is limited to serenading cows. Opera tenor Mario Alvini is appointed to coach the ungainly Judy, and when she fails to shed her awkwardness, he becomes frustrated. Knowing that the audience will reject Judy's clumsiness, Ted arranges for Helen Rand, an actress who resembles Judy, to act the role onstage while Judy sings from backstage. On opening night, Mimi threatens to expose Judy unless she is given the lead role. To silence Mimi, Ted locks her in a closet, but she escapes, so he puts alum in her throat spray, causing her mouth to glue shut. Under the pretext of sending her to a specialist, Ted hails a cab for Mimi and Wilbur and then directs the driver to a justice of the peace's office in the distant countryside. Ted's ruse is a success, and Judy is lauded by both the audience and the critics. The next day, Mimi and Wilbur return and announce that they are married. Ted, feeling guilty about his deception, confesses the truth to Sally, who threatens to write an expose. Feeling culpable herself, Judy visits Sally at the newspaper office and discovers that the reporter's love for Ted has prevented her from printing the truth. Sally's praise of Judy's comedic gifts gives Judy an idea, and she insists that she be allowed to perform in her own style. The next week, Judy opens in "Tillie Tell," a "swing-comedy" opera, and wins over her incredulous audience. After the curtain falls, Judy hooks Mario to a rope and hoists him into the air, holding him there until he promises to marry her.
Director
Del Lord
Cast
Judy Canova
Ross Hunter
Fortunio Bonanova
Doris Merrick
Gloria Holden
Francis Pierlot
Grady Sutton
Louis Mason
Paul Stanton
Clyde Fillmore
Maurice Cass
Luis Alberni
Cosmo Sardo
Charles Marsh
Jim Nolan
Billy Snyder
Sammy Stein
William Newell
Jack Frack
Buster Brodie
Cy Malis
Victor Travers
Crew
Larry Butler
Friedrich Von Flotow
Chet Forrest
Fred L. Fox
Don Glouner
Jack Haynes
Henry Hoople
Irving M. Klein
Viola Lawrence
Charles R. Marion
Ted Richmond
Friedrich Wilhelm Riese
Gioacchino Antonio Rossini
Anton Rubinstein
Herman Schoenbrun
Marlin Skiles
Perry Smith
Cesare Sterbini
James Van Trees
Ivan Volkman
Richard Weil
Edwin Wetzel
Bob Wright
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was Hayfoot, Strawfoot. According to a Hollywood Reporter news item, actress Judy Canova's sister, Ann Canova, was signed to arrange musical numbers for her sister, but the extent of her contribution to the released film has not been determined.
