Redheads on Parade
Cast & Crew
Norman Mcleod
John Boles
Dixie Lee
Jack Haley
Raymond Walburn
Alan Dinehart
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Movie producer George Magnus, actor John Bruce and their publicity agent, Peter Mathews, are attempting to make a comeback with their new picture, Beauties on Parade , but halfway through filming, their backer goes bankrupt. On their way to lunch, the dejected trio stops to use the phone at a beauty parlor owned by Ginger Blair, a former actress down on her luck. Ginger's misfortunes have been caused by Jean Harlow, who inspired the platinum-blonde hair craze that eradicated interest in Titianola, a red hair dye invented by Ginger and marketed by cosmetics magnate Augustus Twill. John hits on the idea of getting Twill to back the film by changing the title to Redheads on Parade and using it to advertise Titianola. Pete and Ginger sell Twill on the idea, telling him that George's studio will sponsor a nationwide beauty contest for redheads, with each state's winner appearing in the film. Twill puts up the money, but it quickly becomes clear that his interest is in Ginger, whom he wants to star in the film, rather than in movie making. He grows jealous over John and Ginger's love scenes and withdraws his support. Just after Twill leaves George's office, Lionel Kunkel and Trelawney Redfern, the manufacturers of Platinola, arrive and try to persuade George to change the film to Platinum Blondes on Parade , but Pete uses them to manipulate Twill into signing back on. Pete also convinces Ginger to play up to Twill so that he will keep the money flowing. Ginger is reluctant to do so because of her growing relationship with John, but manages to juggle dates with both of them until just before the film is finished. Kunkel and Redfern warn Twill that Ginger is seeing John and try to photograph the couple to prove it. After Ginger and John see the pair sneaking around, she inadvertently admits that she has been dating Twill, and the two quarrel. Later, on the day of the premiere, Kunkel tries to find the film of Ginger with John to show Twill, while Redfern successfully bribes Joe, a cutter on George's lot, to disappear with the only print of Redheads on Parade . As Kunkel develops the photographs, Redfern rushes in to tell him of his triumph. The photos are ruined, but the accidental combination of Platinola and developing fluid turn Kunkel's hair a beautiful shade of red. Deciding that they can make a fortune from their new formula if the movie does open, Kunkel and Redfern dash off to find Joe. Meanwhile, Pete tries to calm Twill, who has just been dumped by Ginger, and later, at the theater, Pete tells John that it was his idea for Ginger to string Twill along. George panics as the audience grows impatient for the film to begin, and John looks for Ginger, who has overheard Joe bragging about the easy money he has made. She finds the film in his car and rushes it to the theater just in time. She then goes home, where she is soon joined by John, who apologizes, and the lovers reunite as the audience in the theater goes wild over their film.
Director
Norman Mcleod
Cast
John Boles
Dixie Lee
Jack Haley
Raymond Walburn
Alan Dinehart
Patsy O'connor
Herman Bing
William Austin
Wilbur Mack
Harold Minjir
Anne Nagel
Cullen Morris
Shirley Aaronson
Florine Dixon
Philippa Hilbere
Paul Mcvey
Dorothy Dearing
Lynn Barrie
Antrim Short
Jack Mower
Dick Howard
George Ovey
Billy Engle
Bobby Dunn
Stanley Blystone
Sammy Fields
George Blair
Frances Morris
Audrene Brier
Irving Bacon
Freeman Wood
Gladden James
Ned Norton
Josephine Whittell
Neal Burns
William B. Davidson
Duke York
Francis Mcdonald
Hooper Atchley
Lillian West
Bess Flowers
John T. Murray
Dolores Gallen
Eddie Fetherston
Dave Thursby
Harry Hollingsworth
Jenifer Gray
Eula Love
Rebecca Wassem
Elouise Rozelle
Vee Allen
Grace Goodall
Babette Barker
Jeanne Dunne
June Clifford
Charles Morris
Josephine Campbell
Elinor Rennie
Leana Galen
Katharine Snell
Virginia Smith
Nellie Colt
Joan Palmer
Betty Gordon
Marbeth Wright
Babs Greenwood
Betty Mcmahon
Esther Brodelet
Betty Bowen
Grace Davies
Loretta Andrews
Adelaide Kaye
Margaret Davis
Crystal Keate
Jerry Lane
Pauline Griffith
Adele Lacy
Rita Dunn
Geneva Hall
June Turney
Ruth Jennings
Genee Boutell
Pat Hanna
Evelyn Nielson
Edna Sallee
Margaret Fitzpatrick
Gwen Seager
Jill Evans
Dorothy Sander
Connie Crowell
Claudia Fargo
Althea Henley
Lynne Kelly
Earlene Heath
Angela Blue
Diana Arden
Anita Thompson
Eileen Thomas
Vina Gale
Virginia Jennings
Mary Windsor
Helen Lehigh
Marjean Roach
Teddie Lura
Mae Madison
Denise Sawyer
Alberta Hamblen
Maxine Cantway
Mary Dees
Ruth Holden
Myra Bratton
Art Whitney
Buddy Van Fleet
John Roche
Ted O'shea
James Notarro
Bob Milton
John Locke
Bob Linden
Charlie Lauder
Perk Lazelle
John Jones
Joe Hickey
Jimmy Grant
James Gonzalez
Jack Ellisen
Frank Edmunds
Bob Crosby
Bud Carpenter
John Coffee
Jimmie Cushman
Sam Brown
Don Ackerman
Ward Arnold
Ramon Ros
Jack Lester
Leila Osborne
Marion Ladd
Florine Baile
Joe Mcguinn
Ed Gordon
Crew
Alfred Bruzlin
Larry Ceballos
Louis De Francesco
Jay Gorney
Jay Gorney
Don Hartman
Don Hartman
Don Hartman
Edmund Hartmann
Sam Hellman
Rian James
Julien Josephson
William Lambert
Jesse Lasky Jr.
Jesse L. Lasky
William Le Baron
Joseph Mankiewicz
Barney Mcgill
Max Parker
Gertrude Purcell
John Seitz
Herbert Stahlberg
Keene Thompson
Barry Trivers
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The plot summary for this film was based on a screen continuity contained in the Twentieth Century-Fox Produced Scripts Collection, and the onscreen credits were taken from a screen billing sheet in the Twentieth Century-Fox Records of the Legal Department, both of which are located at the UCLA Theater Arts Library. According to a Film Daily news item, producer Jesse L. Lasky, who used to have a vaudeville act called "Lasky's Redheads," began planning the film in late 1933. The Produced Scripts Collection includes early versions of the screenplay in which proposed cast members included Ginger Rogers as the heroine, Alice Faye as a platinum blonde, and Gregory Ratoff as Kunkel. The legal records note that Grant Mitchell was originally signed to play "Augustus Twill," and he was included on early Hollywood Reporter production charts. Hollywood Reporter news items and production charts note that first Nancy Carroll, and then June Knight, were cast as the heroine of the film, and that Jane Withers was to play "Patsy." Although New York Times reported that the part of "Patsy" was written especially for her, Withers was replaced by four-year-old Patsy O'Connor when she had to start work in The Farmer Takes a Wife. Other Hollywood Reporter news items stated that dance director Larry Ceballos and Tito Guizar were to be included in the cast, but their participation as actors in the completed film has not been confirmed. Hollywood Reporter also reported that director Norman McLeod was on loan from Paramount, and that Bing Crosby, who was married to actress Dixie Lee, was going to sing selections of the picture's songs on his radio show. According to the legal records, the majority of actresses playing redheads signed contracts stating that they would dye their hair the required shade of red.
