I'm from Missouri


1h 17m 1939

Film Details

Genre
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
Apr 7, 1939
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novels Sixteen Hands by Homer Croy (New York, 1938) and Need of Change by Julian Street (New York, 1909).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 17m
Film Length
9 reels

Synopsis

The state of Missouri enjoys a boon when the British war office boosts the mule market with huge contracts. Following the boon, however, the Missouri mule farmers suffer a depression, at the height of which bank director "Sweeney" Bliss is offered only ten dollars for his prize mule, Samson. In an effort to save the local farms, Sweeney forbids the farmers to sell their mules at such low prices and agrees to keep them at his ranch. That night, in the middle of Sweeney's wife Julie's party, a British couple, the Arthurs, are forced to land their plane in the Blisses' field, where they get stuck in the mud. Sweeney proudly pulls the plane out of the mud using Samson and gives the Arthurs their first taste of "real" America. Julie's sister, Lola Pike, meanwhile, dances with her sweetheart, Joel Streight, who has learned that Captain Brooks-Bowen of the British Embassy will be at the upcoming stock show in Kansas City to appraise the mules. During the party, Sweeney flies off with Samson to the fair, and Joel drives Julie and Lola to meet them. Brooks-Bowen, impressed when Samson unofficially breaks the world record for pulling weight, invites the Blisses to dinner, and Julie is sure the captain has his eyes on Lola. Also at the fair is American tractor magnate George Rowe, who is determined to thwart Sweeney's efforts. Brooks-Bowen invites Sweeney to London to act as representative of the American mule market. Because of a livestock quarantine, Sweeney and Samson must stay behind, while Julie and Lola travel to England on The Queen Mary . In Sweeney's absence, Julie becomes obsessed with being accepted into London high society and spends the family's savings on a home complete with valet, cook and social secretary. Julie's plan is to host a reception to impress Brooks-Bowen so he will propose to Lola. Sweeney arrives and creates a scandal when he inadvertently leads Samson through a Turkish bath in the fog and makes newspaper headlines after he is arrested. Hector Arthur sees the papers and calls Sweeney to congratulate him, and Sweeney invites him to the party. Julie, enraged over the mule incident, scolds Sweeney for inviting the Arthurs, believing they are underclass. In actuality, they are the Duke and Duchess of Cricklewood. Meanwhile, Sweeney has hired Gus, an old vaudeville friend to impersonate American General Cody Starbuck at the reception. Julie wants the general there to impress Colonel Marchbank, who is negotiating with Rowe for tractors. Gus gets drunk, however, and gets in a row with the valet, Hearne, over his wife Kitty, the cook, and all the guests leave, including Marchbank. Joel, meanwhile, arrives with news that the Missouri farmers believe Sweeney has abandoned them for London society and have sent 2,000 mules to London for him to dispose of, unaware that they will be quarantined for six months at the owners' expense. When the Arthurs arrive with their aristocratic friends, Julie believes their titles are another of Sweeney's pranks. When she realizes she could have been accepted into society months before if she had been less of a snob, Julie apologizes to Sweeney and suggests they sell their farm. The next morning, the papers report that a fatal disease in India is killing mules by the hundreds. Rowe, who had promised Marchbank a large mule delivery, is forced to bid for Sweeney's mules, and with Hector's help, Sweeney receives $150 a head. Marchbank then arrives and catches Rowe in his own duplicity. Sweeney offers Marchbank the mules at $100 a piece, plus a guarantee he will buy all his mules from Missouri. The Blisses then board the boat for home with Joel and Lola, who have just married.

Cast

Bob Burns

Sweeney Bliss

Gladys George

Julie Bliss

Gene Lockhart

Porgie Rowe

Judith Barrett

Lola Pike

William Henry

Joel Streight

Patricia Morison

Allison Rowe

E. E. Clive

Mr. Arthur, Duke of Cricklewood

Melville Cooper

Hearne

William Collier Sr.

Smith

Lawrence Grossmith

Colonel Marchbank

George P. Huntley

Captain Brooks-Bowen

Doris Lloyd

Mrs. Arthur, Duchess of Cricklewood

Tom Dugan

Gus, General Cody Starbuck

Dennie Moore

Kitty

James Burke

Walt Bliss

Ethel Griffies

Miss Wildhack

Spencer Charters

Mule breeder

Raymond Hatton

Mule breeder

Eddy Waller

Mule breeder

Charles Halton

Henry Couch

Richard Denning

Plane pilot

Clarence Wilson

Dilson

Billy Cook

Farm boy

Winifred Harris

Clara

Kenneth Hunter

Edgar

Forrester Harvey

Customs inspector

Morgan Banks

Auctioneer

Harry Tenbrook

Superintendent

Frank Hammond

Clerk

Martin Faust

Clerk

Russ Powell

Mule man

Harry Myers

Mule man

Lee Shumway

Mule man

Carl Harbaugh

Mule man

C. L. Sherwood

Mule man

Philip Morris

Owner

Howard Mitchell

Chairman

John Sutton

Subaltern

Phillips Smalley

Man with monocle

Douglas Francis

Porter

Walter Soderling

Traveler

Jimmy Aubrey

Customs inspector

Betty Roadman

Woman passenger

Bernard Suss

Clerk

Gene Morgan

Band leader

Harry Allen

Sergeant

James Kilgannon

Sailor

John Hiestand

Announcer

Dick Elliott

Mule judge

Frank Mills

Hot dog vendor

Manuel Valencia

Argentine mule owner

Joseph Franz

Timekeeper

David Thursby

Truck driver

John Spacey

Bobby

Guy Bellis

First gentleman

Eric Wilton

Second gentleman

Tiny Newlan

Attendant

Robert St. Angelo

Attendant

Charles Irwin

Hangover victim

John Sheehan

Drunk

Jack Norton

Drunk

Mike Pat Donovan

Farmer

Sid D'albrook

Farmer

Ned Glass

Teller

Billy Arnold

Salesman

Janet Waldo

Hat check girl

Luana Walters

Hat check girl

Phillip Warren

Allen Fox

Fritzi Brunette

Gwen Kenyon

Judy King

Joyce Mathews

Helaine Moler

Dorothy White

Ethel Clayton

Gloria Williams

Film Details

Genre
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
Apr 7, 1939
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novels Sixteen Hands by Homer Croy (New York, 1938) and Need of Change by Julian Street (New York, 1909).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 17m
Film Length
9 reels

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

Although onscreen credits list Gene Lockhart's character as "Porgie Rowe", he is called "George Rowe" in the film. A Hollywood Reporter production chart includes Barry Mackay in the cast, but his appearance in the released film has not been confirmed.