Their Big Moment
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
James Cruze
Zasu Pitts
Slim Summerville
William Gaxton
Bruce Cabot
Kay Johnson
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
After her husband Arthur is killed in an airplane accident, Long Island socialite Fay Harley falls under the influence of Dr. Portman, a conniving, phony medium, who tells her that Arthur is using him to deliver an important message. Determined to free her sister from Portman and to keep her own affair with Arthur a secret, Eve Farrington hires has-been vaudeville performer "The Great La Salle" and his "mindreading" partner, "Madame Marvo," to expose Portman to Fay. Madame Marvo quits the act, however, and La Salle's nervous assistant, Tillie Whim, is talked into taking her place. For $6,000, La Salle, Tillie and Bill Ambrose agree to fake an airplane crash near Fay's mansion and participate in a rigged seance. When the troupe arrives at the house, Portman, who uses a miniature sound machine to torment Fay with airplane noises, immediately suspects them and insists that Tillie pass a test before the proposed seance. With help from practiced tricksters La Salle and Bill, Tillie passes the test and falls into a trance. To everyone's surprise, Tillie states that Arthur was murdered and warns a hysterical Fay not to sign any contracts. Outraged by Tillie's seeming betrayal, Eve and her husband John order the troupe away, but after La Salle becomes convinced that Tillie is a genuine medium, he insists that they stay and uncover the murderer. To protect himself, Portman, who has secured Fay's power of attorney, then confronts Lane Franklyn, Arthur's legal advisor, about Arthur's death and suggests that Lane tampered with the wires on Arthur's airplane after Arthur discovered that he had misused his position for financial gains. Thus exposed, Lane steals poison from Portman's medical case and, sure that Portman will be accused of killing Fay for her money, mixes it into her drink. Fay, however, retires without drinking the poison, and La Salle deduces Lane's plot. By tricking Lane into believing that he has drunk the poison, La Salle and Tillie force a confession out of him, while Bill discovers Portman's sound device. As the police arrest Portman and Lane, La Salle, Bill and Tillie are congratulated by a grateful Fay and Eve.
Director
James Cruze
Cast
Zasu Pitts
Slim Summerville
William Gaxton
Bruce Cabot
Kay Johnson
Julie Haydon
Ralph Morgan
Huntley Gordon
Tamara Geva
Edward Brady
Crew
Pandro S. Berman
Joseph Biroc
Arthur Caesar
Marion Dix
P. J. Faulkner Jr.
William Hamilton
Charles Kerr
Gaston Longet
Van Nest Polglase
Cliff Reid
Max Steiner
Harold Wenstrom
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was Afterwards. Actor Gordon's first name is spelled "Huntly" in the film's opening credits, and "Huntley" in the end credits. According to a Hollywood Reporter news item, Helen Vinson was signed to act in the production, but her participation in the final film has not been confirmed.
