Love on a Bet (1936) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

A man bets he can make a cross-country trip with no money.

Cast & Crew

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Leigh Jason

Gene Raymond

Michael MacCreigh

Wendy Barrie

Helen Broderick

William Collier Sr.

Uncle Carlton MacCreigh

Spencer Charters

Film Details

Also Known As

Don't Bet on Love

Genre

Comedy

Release Date

Mar 6, 1936

Premiere Information

New York opening: 4 Mar 1936

Production Company

RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.

Distribution Company

RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.

Country

United States

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 17m

Sound

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color

Black and White

Film Length

8 reels

Synopsis

Determined to produce the new play that his friend, Stephen Doty, has written, Michael MacCreigh makes the following bet with his wealthy uncle Carlton: If Michael is able to leave New York in his underwear, with no money and no chance of securing a loan, and arrive in Los Angeles ten days later with a suit, one hundred dollars and a girl friend, as the hero in Stephen's play does, Uncle Carlton will invest $15,000 in the production. If Michael fails to complete any aspect of the wager, however, he will give up the theater and join the MacCreigh meatpacking business. To satisfy the bet's first stipulation, Michael steps out of his uncle's limousine in his underwear and is chased by a Manhattan policeman to the nearest restaurant, where he runs into Paula Gilbert, a reluctant gold digger, and her would-be fiancé, Jackson Wallace. After Paula upbraids him for his appearance, Michael steals her cloak and is chased by Jackson, who eventually loses his tuxedo to Michael. On the road the next morning, Michael exchanges his tuxedo for a bum's World War I uniform and, while posing as a disabled veteran, is picked up by Paula and her aunt Charlotte, who are following Jackson to Los Angeles in the hope of securing a quick proposal. After a day on the road, the trio stops at a run-down hotel, where Michael works his charm on Paula and where he convinces Pop, the owner, to pay him for a few hours' work. The next day, Michael uses his pay to buy jars of Pop's homemade preserves, one of which he then resells to Paula. Michael also guarantees himself a ride with Paula and Charlotte by sabotaging their car and then repairing it for them on the road. Eventually, by bartering items town to town, Michael earns enough money to buy a suit. He also earns the love of Paula, who, in defiance of Charlotte, decides to give up Jackson. In New Mexico, however, the trio is ambushed by escaped convicts Donovan and Morton. Egged on by Paula, Michael escapes from the gangsters' hideout and eventually captures them and negotiates one hundred dollars as a reward. While still in the police station, Paula overhears Michael on the telephone, discussing the bet with his father. Furious and hurt by her discovery, Paula leaves without a word and takes the next airplane to Los Angeles. Aided by Charlotte, Michael finally catches up with Paula and convinces her of his genuine love. Then, with seconds to spare, Michael arrives at the appointed place to meet his father and win the wager. When Paula hears how Michael plans to spend the money, however, she convinces him to give up the theater and join the meatpacking business.

Director

Leigh Jason

Cast

Gene Raymond

Michael MacCreigh

Wendy Barrie

Helen Broderick

William Collier Sr.

Uncle Carlton MacCreigh

Spencer Charters

Walter Johnson

Addison Randall

Jackson Wallace

Eddie Gribbon

Morgan Wallace

Billy Gilbert

Crew

Alberto Colombo

Kenneth Earl

Philip G. Epstein

Robert De Grasse

Al Herman

Art Director Associate

B. B. Kahane

Lee Marcus

Associate Producer

Desmond Marquette

Van Nest Polglase

Clem Portman

Vernon Walker

Photography Effects

P. J. Wolfson

Film Details

Also Known As

Don't Bet on Love

Genre

Comedy

Release Date

Mar 6, 1936

Premiere Information

New York opening: 4 Mar 1936

Production Company

RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.

Distribution Company

RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.

Country

United States

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 17m

Sound

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color

Black and White

Film Length

8 reels

Articles

Love on a Bet

December 7, 2006

Love on a Bet, one of RKO's offerings for American theaters in 1936, was a definitive product of its era. Produced and released during the height of the Great Depression, this romantic comedy helped its audience face the challenge of being poor, and to take delight in the simple pleasures of life. The plot involves Gene Raymond betting his rich uncle that he can start in New York with nothing but his underwear and wind up in Los Angeles, ten days later, wearing a new suit of clothes, $100 in his pocket, and engaged to a pretty girl.

In particular, Love on a Bet addressed the problem of homelessness, and the plight of millions of Americans who found themselves without a job, a bank account, or a home. For many, the street substituted as both a bed and a home. Love on a Bet took this basic premise and weaved an escapist fantasy around it. My Man Godfrey(1936), Meet John Doe (1941) and Sullivan's Travels(1942) are a few of the more famous titles that have also dealt humorously, but respectably, with the "forgotten men" who populated American streets.

The star in Love on a Bet was blonde, blue-eyed, early-talkie leading man Gene Raymond, who had been on the New York stage from near-infancy, making his Broadway bow at age 12. Though never a major star, Raymond developed a following in a variety of good film roles. His best screen assignments include important roles in If I Had a Million (1932), Zoo in Budapest (1933), Flying Down to Rio (1933) and Alfred Hitchcock's only screwball comedy, Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941). In 1948, Raymond scored a quadruple feat by producing, directing, co-writing and starring in Million Dollar Weekend. In real life, Raymond was married to singing star Jeanette MacDonald from 1937 until her death in 1965. Despite the many film credits between them, they only acted together in one film, Smilin' Through in 1941.

Director: Leigh Jason
Producer: Lee S. Marcus
Screenplay: Kenneth Earl (story), Philip G. Epstein, P.J. Wolfson
Cinematography: Robert De Grasse
Editor: Desmond Marquette
Art Direction: Albert Herman, Van Nest Polglase
Music: Alberto Colombo
Cast: Gene Raymond (Michael MacCreigh), Wendy Barrie (Paula Gilbert), Helen Broderick (Aunt Charlotte), William Collier Sr. (Uncle Carlton), Spencer Charters (Innkeeper).
BW-77m.

By Scott McGee

Love On A Bet

Love on a Bet

Love on a Bet, one of RKO's offerings for American theaters in 1936, was a definitive product of its era. Produced and released during the height of the Great Depression, this romantic comedy helped its audience face the challenge of being poor, and to take delight in the simple pleasures of life. The plot involves Gene Raymond betting his rich uncle that he can start in New York with nothing but his underwear and wind up in Los Angeles, ten days later, wearing a new suit of clothes, $100 in his pocket, and engaged to a pretty girl. In particular, Love on a Bet addressed the problem of homelessness, and the plight of millions of Americans who found themselves without a job, a bank account, or a home. For many, the street substituted as both a bed and a home. Love on a Bet took this basic premise and weaved an escapist fantasy around it. My Man Godfrey(1936), Meet John Doe (1941) and Sullivan's Travels(1942) are a few of the more famous titles that have also dealt humorously, but respectably, with the "forgotten men" who populated American streets. The star in Love on a Bet was blonde, blue-eyed, early-talkie leading man Gene Raymond, who had been on the New York stage from near-infancy, making his Broadway bow at age 12. Though never a major star, Raymond developed a following in a variety of good film roles. His best screen assignments include important roles in If I Had a Million (1932), Zoo in Budapest (1933), Flying Down to Rio (1933) and Alfred Hitchcock's only screwball comedy, Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941). In 1948, Raymond scored a quadruple feat by producing, directing, co-writing and starring in Million Dollar Weekend. In real life, Raymond was married to singing star Jeanette MacDonald from 1937 until her death in 1965. Despite the many film credits between them, they only acted together in one film, Smilin' Through in 1941. Director: Leigh Jason Producer: Lee S. Marcus Screenplay: Kenneth Earl (story), Philip G. Epstein, P.J. Wolfson Cinematography: Robert De Grasse Editor: Desmond Marquette Art Direction: Albert Herman, Van Nest Polglase Music: Alberto Colombo Cast: Gene Raymond (Michael MacCreigh), Wendy Barrie (Paula Gilbert), Helen Broderick (Aunt Charlotte), William Collier Sr. (Uncle Carlton), Spencer Charters (Innkeeper). BW-77m. By Scott McGee

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

The working title of this film was Don't Bet on Love. According to Motion Picture Herald's "The Cutting Room," Erik Rhodes was to have played the part of "Jackson Wallace." RKO borrowed Wendy Barrie from Paramount for this production. Hollywood Reporter production charts add Guinn Williams, Irving Bacon, Jerry Larkin, Mary McLaren, Eddie Kane, J. Anthony Hughes, Jack Rice, and Eddie Borden to the cast. The participation of these actors in the final film has not been confirmed.

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