By Violet LeVoit
A Soldier's Plaything
Brief Synopsis
A group of U.S. soldiers run riot through France after the end of World War I.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Michael Curtiz
Director
Lotti Loder
Gretchen Rittner
Harry Langdon
Tim
Ben Lyon
Georgie
Jean Hersholt
Grandfather Rittner
Noah Beery
Captain Plover
Film Details
Genre
Drama
Comedy
Release Date
Nov
1,
1930
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Warner Brothers Pictures
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 11m
Sound
Vitaphone
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
2.13 : 1
Film Length
5,166ft
(6 reels)
Synopsis
At the beginning of the war, Georgie Wilson, an irresponsible but likable citizen having no sympathy with the conflict, decides to stick to his all-night poker sessions, but his bashful friend, Tim, joins the Army. After a game, Georgie goes to Lola's apartment to pay a debt he owes her brother, and her sweetheart, Hank, accuses him of flirting and cheating. Georgie pushes him from a balcony and assumes that he killed him. To elude Hank's friends, Georgie and Tim enlist in the Army. His easy manner wins him many friends, and after the war, while with the Army of Occupation, Georgie falls in love with Gretchen, daughter of a cafe proprietor in Koblenz; but he decides to return to the States and clear his name before marrying her. He discovers, to his delight, that Hank is alive and also in the Army, and he promises to return to Gretchen as soon as he is discharged.
Director
Michael Curtiz
Director
Cast
Lotti Loder
Gretchen Rittner
Harry Langdon
Tim
Ben Lyon
Georgie
Jean Hersholt
Grandfather Rittner
Noah Beery
Captain Plover
Fred Kohler
Hank
Lee Moran
Corporal Brown
Otto Matieson
Herman
Marie Astaire
Lola
Frank Campeau
Dave
Crew
Film Details
Genre
Drama
Comedy
Release Date
Nov
1,
1930
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Warner Brothers Pictures
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 11m
Sound
Vitaphone
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
2.13 : 1
Film Length
5,166ft
(6 reels)
Articles
A Soldier's Plaything
Harry Langdon was long considered an also-ran after silent comedy's holy trilogy of Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd, but during his heyday the soft-faced clown was still an impressive box office draw, having earned a $1.5 million personal fortune from films like The Strong Man (1926). But by the sound era his star had begun to fade, a letdown accelerated by Langdon's complicated personal life (after being blackmailed by the husband of his still-married lover, she ended up marrying Langdon, divorcing him, and suing the now penurious actor for alimony.) Desperate for work, in May 1930 Langdon signed on for his first sound picture Soldier's Plaything, a lark about two buddies (Ben Lyon and Langdon) who join the Army to flee a sticky situation back home. Langdon, with the auspicious help of director Michael Curtiz, did the best he could with the movie's broad gags -- some suspiciously recycled from Langdon's Mack Sennett short All Night Long (1924) -- but the movie tanked at the box office. Langdon had to muddle through a few more lean years before regaining some footing in Hollywood, but the adroit Curtiz went on to direct Casablanca (1942).
By Violet LeVoit
By Violet LeVoit
A Soldier's Plaything
Harry Langdon was long considered an also-ran after silent comedy's holy trilogy of Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd, but during his heyday the soft-faced clown was still an impressive box office draw, having earned a $1.5 million personal fortune from films like The Strong Man (1926). But by the sound era his star had begun to fade, a letdown accelerated by Langdon's complicated personal life (after being blackmailed by the husband of his still-married lover, she ended up marrying Langdon, divorcing him, and suing the now penurious actor for alimony.) Desperate for work, in May 1930 Langdon signed on for his first sound picture Soldier's Plaything, a lark about two buddies (Ben Lyon and Langdon) who join the Army to flee a sticky situation back home. Langdon, with the auspicious help of director Michael Curtiz, did the best he could with the movie's broad gags -- some suspiciously recycled from Langdon's Mack Sennett short All Night Long (1924) -- but the movie tanked at the box office. Langdon had to muddle through a few more lean years before regaining some footing in Hollywood, but the adroit Curtiz went on to direct Casablanca (1942).
By Violet LeVoit
