Doctor Rhythm


1h 20m 1938

Film Details

Also Known As
The Badge of Policeman O'Roon
Genre
Comedy
Musical
Release Date
May 6, 1938
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Major Pictures Corp.
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the short story "The Badge of Policeman O'Roon" by O. Henry in The World (25 Dec 1904).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 20m
Film Length
8 reels

Synopsis

Dr. William Remsen vigorously celebrates his fifteenth annual high school Relay Team reunion in Central Park Zoo with his buddies, Al, Luke and Patrolman Lawrence O'Roon. He awakens in the park in the morning and, while serenading the birds, notices that a beautiful woman on horseback is also part of his audience, but she leaves before he finds out her identity. O'Roon is still so drunk that he cavorts with the seals in their tank, but unfortunately, is bitten on the buttocks by an ornery seal. Bill treats his friend at his office, and to save him further embarrassment, fills in for O'Roon's police assignment as bodyguard to socialite Lorelei Dodge-Blodgett. Mrs. Dodge-Blodgett is the chairperson for the annual Policeman's Ball, and assigns Bill to follow her niece, Judy Marlowe, and prevent her from eloping with fortune hunter Chris LeRoy. Bill is delighted to discover that Judy is the woman from the park, and while she also recognizes him, she is still bent on marrying LeRoy. Bill prevents her from eloping that day by handcuffing her to the café table where she meets LeRoy, but later, she purchases a suite on a cruise ship, and secretly plans to leave the ship just after it launches to join Chris on his yacht. In the meantime, Mrs. Dodge-Blodgett has a nervous breakdown when she tries to order a dozen double damask napkins at a department store, and her friend, Mrs. Twombling, a patient of Bill's, recommends her to him. When she arrives she is in a dazed state, and believes that O'Roon is the doctor, despite his protests. Through a series of mishaps, both of them wind up unconscious. O'Roon revives to find his police chief at the office. He tells him he has assigned another officer as bodyguard for Judy because he is trying to capture LeRoy. His chief promises him a $1,000 reward and a promotion if he gets LeRoy that night. O'Roon and Bill capture Judy as she gets off the cruise ship, and O'Roon heads for LeRoy's yacht, where LeRoy and his men keep him hostage. Before going to the Policeman's Ball, Bill takes Judy to a carnival on the pier, where once again, she tries to elude him. He catches her on the honeymoon ride, where he confesses his love for her. She also loves him, although she pretends to be unmoved. Yet, when she finds out Bill would get a reward for the capture of LeRoy, she loses faith in him. At the ball, LeRoy impersonates the magician and, with Judy as a now-reluctant volunteer, he makes her "disappear." Bill and O'Roon, who escaped from his captors, discover the ruse and find Judy, while Mrs. Dodge-Blodgett blows the whistle on LeRoy. The entire police force is in attendance and they all go after LeRoy. Bill captures him, but leaves him for O'Roon to get the credit, then he finally gets an earnest kiss from Judy, who wholeheartedly reciprocates his love.

Film Details

Also Known As
The Badge of Policeman O'Roon
Genre
Comedy
Musical
Release Date
May 6, 1938
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Major Pictures Corp.
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the short story "The Badge of Policeman O'Roon" by O. Henry in The World (25 Dec 1904).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 20m
Film Length
8 reels

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

The working title of the film was The Badge of Policeman O'Roon. Copyright records indicate that the character "LeRoy" had the first name "Vic," although in the film he is called "Chris." According to a modern source, Louis Armstrong's piece "Trumpet Player's Lament" was cut from the film prior to release.