Melody Lane
Cast & Crew
Charles Lamont
The Merry Macs:
Judd Mcmichael
Ted Mcmichael
Joe Mcmichael
Mary Lou Cook
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Advertising man J. Roy Thomas is stymied in his attempts to sign an act for his biggest client, Kornies Breakfast Food. Every time Thomas signs an act for the breakfast food's radio show, his deluded client, McKenzie, who fancies himself a musical talent, insists on joining the band and otherwise ruining the broadcast. Unable to find any local talent willing to put up with his client, Thomas sends his aide, Patricia Reynolds, to Yubaville, Iowa to sign the group Gabe Morgan's Rhythmeers. While his bandmates jump at the chance to move to New York City, Gabe is reluctant to take his orphaned niece, Baby Sandy, away from the quiet life of Yubaville. Pat uses her feminine wiles to woo both Gabe and Sandy, and the group finally agrees to the move. The female Rhythmeer, Mary Lou, however, soon becomes jealous of Pat's intense interest in Gabe. Once they arrive in New York, Gabe and the band suffer the same fate as their predecessors, as McKenzie again insists on joining the act. After a particularly crazed rehearsal, Gabe threatens to quit the group and move back to Yubaville with his niece. He is especially incensed because he suspects that Pat is romantically involved with Thomas, and that she "played him for a sucker" as she collected a $5,000 bonus for signing the band. The rest of the Rhythmeers are keen to stay, however, and Mary Lou is particularly determined, as she is the one who is actually involved with Thomas. In the meantime, child performers Butch and Buddy, who have been seeking an audition with Thomas, finally corner McKenzie with their new act, which includes Sandy playing the xylophone, something she usually does with her uncle's group. After a madcap audition, the two boys rush away, leaving the young girl behind. Sandy's apparent disappearance causes a sensation and leads to a frantic search. When McKenzie attempts to take the young girl back to Thomas' office, he is immediately arrested by the police for kidnapping. The sponsor is taken to police headquarters, where he is met by Pat, Gabe, Thomas and Mary Lou. Pat then hatches a plan to blackmail McKenzie into agreeing to refrain from interfering with the Rhythmeers if they clear him of the kidnapping charges. McKenzie reluctantly agrees, just in time for the show's initial broadcast. As the show is about to begin, Thomas and Mary Lou announce their engagement, as do Gabe and Pat.
Director
Charles Lamont
Cast
The Merry Macs:
Judd Mcmichael
Ted Mcmichael
Joe Mcmichael
Mary Lou Cook
Leon Errol
Anne Gwynne
Robert Paige
Don Douglas
Billy Lenhart
Kenneth Brown
Louis Da Pron
Clifford "red" Stanley
Sandy
Charles Coleman
Will Lee
Tim Ryan
Barbara Brown
Charles Williams
John Sheehan
Milton Kibbee
Harry Strang
Douglas Evans
Kernan Cripps
Ed Peil Sr.
Jack Carrington
Ralph Brooks
Gene O'donnell
Eddie Fetherston
Eddie Hart
Jimmy Lucas
Crew
Jerome Ash
Norman Berens
William F. Bloecher
Jack Brooks
Bernard B. Brown
Bernard Feins
R. A. Gausman
Ken Goldsmith
Morton Grant
Alice Hawthorne
Joe Lapis
Otto Ludwig
Joseph Mcdonough
Jack Otterson
Charles Previn
Richard H. Riedel
George Rony
Howard Snyder
Hugh Wedlock Jr.
Vera West
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Sandra Lee Henville, better known as "Baby Sandy," was billed merely as "Sandy" in the film's onscreen credits. Billy Lenhart and Kenneth Brown were billed as Butch and Buddy in the opening credits. This was the sixth and final "Baby Sandy" film produced at Universal. Hollywood Reporter production charts include Howard Hickman in the cast, but his appearance in the final film has not been confirmed. For additional information on the series, please consult the Series Index and see the entry for Unexpected Father in AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1931-40; F3.4862.
