Man About Town
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Mark Sandrich
Jack Benny
Dorothy Lamour
Edward Arnold
Binnie Barnes
Monty Woolley
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
American comedian Bob Temple has a reputation for being a perfect gentleman with the ladies and therefore, a perfect bore. Consequently, although Bob is in love with leading lady Diana Wilson, she seems to be interested in him only as a friend. With the encouragement of his butler, Rochester, Bob decides to rebel against his "safe" reputation and, while in London, begins a clumsy pursuit of the beautiful Lady Arlington, unaware that she is married. For her part, Lady Arlington is a neglected wife, and through the urging of her French houseguest, Mme. Dubois, invites Bob to a weekend party at her estate, hoping to instill jealousy in her husband John. The ruse succeeds, and not only does John become jealous, but so do M. Dubois and Diana after John reveals that he saw Bob kiss Mme. Dubois. As a result, both husbands arm themselves with pistols, and accompanied by an angry Diana, confront Bob during his opening night performance. He is saved, however, when Rochester appears with a baby and pretends that it is Bob and Diana's legitimate child. Lady Arlington then confesses that the alleged affair was all her fault, and thus saved, Bob and Diana are finally able to pursue their love for each other.
Director
Mark Sandrich
Cast
Jack Benny
Dorothy Lamour
Edward Arnold
Binnie Barnes
Monty Woolley
Isabel Jeans
Phil Harris
Betty Grable
E. E. Clive
Eddie Anderson
The Merriel Abbott Dancers
Matty Malneck's Orchestra
The Pina Troup
Leonard Mudie
Herbert Evans
Clifford Severn
Cyril Thornton
Kay Linaker
Harriette Haddon
Theo E. Roebuck
Cecil Kellaway
Norman Ainsley
Wesley Barry
Charles Irwin
Charles Hall
Charles Coleman
Colin Kenny
Peggy Stewart
Patti Sacks
Bert Roach
Leon Belasco
Adolph Milar
Dorothy Dayton
Alphonse Martel
Wilson Benge
Crew
Hans Dreier
A. E. Freudeman
Edith Head
Frederick Hollander
Arthur Hornblow Jr.
William Lebaron
Harold Lewis
Frank Loesser
Matty Malneck
Holly Morse
Z. Myers
Richard Olson
Leroy Prinz
Morrie Ryskind
Morrie Ryskind
Troy Sanders
Allan Scott
Leroy Stone
Ted Tetzlaff
Robert Usher
Victor Young
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Use a little imagination, Rochester. What would you order if you wanted to make an impression?- Bob Temple
How about fish and chips and a couple of bottles of gin?- Rochester
Rochester, you never ask a titled lady for her phone number. We just had lunch.- Bob Temple
Man, that's like readin' one page and throwin' away the book.- Rochester
Bob, you're shaking like a leaf.- Ted Nash
Shaking like a leaf! What's a leaf got to shake about?- Bob Temple
Trivia
Originally, this film was to feature Betty Grable opposite Jack Benny in the role of Diana Wilson, but because of illness she had to be replaced by Dorothy Lamour. She recovered in time, however, to contribute a song.
Notes
The opening credits of the film identify actor Eddie Anderson only by his character name, Rochester, but the closing credits list his real name and credit his role. According to a news item in Hollywood Reporter, the original story for this picture was written by Benn Levy, but his participation in the final film has not been confirmed. Another news item in Hollywood Reporter adds that General Foods displayed posters for this film in all its Jello outlets.
