Okay, America! (1932)

Okay, America! (1932)

starring Lew Ayres, Maureen O'Sullivan, Louis Calhern

directed by Tay Garnett

78 minutes

Newspaper columnist Larry Wayne (Lew Ayres) sniffs around town looking for a subject for his next column until he stumbles across a big one. One of Larry's sources tips him off to the fact that Mileaway Russell (Louis Calhern) is the one who kidnapped missing heiress Ruth Drake.

Wayne confronts Russell with what he knows. He talks Russell into accepting a ransom in return for the safe return of the missing girl. Wayne goes so far as to help get the ransom money to Russell. Wayne makes a big deal about the impending return of the missing heiress only to learn that Duke Morgan (Edward Arnold), Russell's boss, wants something more before he's willing to give up Ruth Drake.

Thoughts

I saw this film as part of the AFI Silver Classic Film Weekend at the AFI Silver Theater. It was introduced by Danny Reid, co-author of Pre-Code Essentials: Must-See Cinema from Hollywood’s Untamed Years, 1930–1934. He talked for around 10 minutes about the cast and the relative importance of the era in which the film was made to understanding some of the plot points.

Wayne is based on real life columnist Walter Winchell. Wayne also appeared on a radio show. He opened and closed all of his radio appearances with "Okay, America!"

Most of the performances are decent to good in this movie. It didn't blow me away with greatness. I liked the relationship that Wayne had with his secretary, Sheila Barton (Maureen O'Sullivan). I appreciated the fact that the movie didn't pull it's punches in the final scene and gave Wayne the fate he had earned.

Notes

I've seen Maureen O'Sullivan in a couple movies in recent years, The Big Clock (1948) and Hannah and Her Sisters (1986).

Walter Catlett played the part of Larry's editor, whom Larry called Lucille. I've seen Walter Catlett in a couple other movies in recent years, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) and Bringing Up Baby (1938).

I've seen Louis Calhern in a couple other movies in recent years, Notorious (1946) and High Society (1956).

I've also seen Lew Ayres in Johnny Belinda (1948).

I've seen Edward Arnold in plenty of other movies, at least three of them were directed by Frank Capra.