It's Tough to Be Famous
Brief Synopsis
Fame complicates a naval hero's private life.
Cast & Crew
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Alfred E. Green
Director
Douglas Fairbanks
Scotty McClenahan
Mary Brian
Janet Porter McClenahan
Harold Minjir
Sutter
Emma Dunn
"Moms" McClenahan
Walter Catlett
Chapin
Film Details
Also Known As
Tough to be Famous
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
Apr
2,
1932
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
First National Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
First National Pictures, Inc.; The Vitaphone Corp.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel The Goldfish Bowl by Mary McCall, Jr. (Boston, 1932)
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 20m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Film Length
8 reels
Synopsis
Scotty McClenahan, captain of a damaged submarine, helps all his men escape but stays behind himself. At the last minute, rescue divers reach the ship and save him. The press hounds the new hero. He receives a ticker tape parade, and acquires a manager and a speech writer. Someone even writes a song, "Scotty Boy," about him. Tired of all the fuss, Scotty escapes from a party to visit his girl, Janet Porter. After a reporter sees him leave at three in the morning, Scotty announces his engagement. They have a happy carefree honeymoon, and then Scotty starts his job at the S. J. Boynton Gyroscope Co. He is eager to work, but it seems that he is only getting his high salary for the publicity value of his name. Scotty hates public life, so when he comes home after a speaking tour to see an interview with Janet announced on the cover of a magazine, he feels betrayed. They quarrel, and Janet leaves home. At the office, Boynton is upset about a new hero, Ole Olafson, who has been hired by a competitor, Atlas Gyroscope. Boynton wants Scotty to head an expedition up the Amazon in the repaired submarine to draw public attention back to him, but Scotty quits his job instead. Having taken this step, Scotty tries to reconcile with Janet. She suggests they try living with their parents and dating as they used to do. Reluctantly, he agrees, but finally presses her for a decision, and when she hesitates, he decides to go on the submarine expedition after all. Just as he leaves the house, Janet calls to tell Scotty she loves him. Together they leave for New York, and when a car stalls on the railroad tracks in front of them, Scotty pushes it over in a nick of time. Afraid of being a hero again, he then drives away as fast as he can.
Director
Alfred E. Green
Director
Cast
Douglas Fairbanks
Scotty McClenahan
Mary Brian
Janet Porter McClenahan
Harold Minjir
Sutter
Emma Dunn
"Moms" McClenahan
Walter Catlett
Chapin
David Landau
Steve
Oscar Apfel
Boynton
Terrance Ray
Sanford
J. Carroll Naish
Lieutenant Blake
Claire Mcdowell
Mrs. Porter
Louise Beavers
Ada
Lilian Bond
Edna Jackson
Ivan Linow
Ole Olafson
Clarence Nordstrom
Crew
Charles Althouse
Sound
Ray Curtiss
Editing
John Ellis
Still Photographer
Leo F. Forbstein
Vitaphone Orch Conductor
Byron Hartley
Photography
Fred Jackman
Special Effects
Michael Joyce
2nd Camera
Robert Lord
Adaptation
Earl Luick
Gowns
Robert Mitchell
Assistant Camera
Sam A. Perry
Composer
Sol Polito
Photography
Film Details
Also Known As
Tough to be Famous
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
Apr
2,
1932
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
First National Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
First National Pictures, Inc.; The Vitaphone Corp.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel The Goldfish Bowl by Mary McCall, Jr. (Boston, 1932)
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 20m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Film Length
8 reels
Articles
It's Tough to be Famous
Fame complicates a naval hero's private life.
It's Tough to be Famous
Fame complicates a naval hero's private life.
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The film's pre-release title was Tough to Be Famous. The song "Scotty Boy" was sung by Clarence Nordstrom, who was a musical comedy juvenile on Broadway.
