Broadway Through a Keyhole
| Broadway Through a Keyhole | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Lowell Sherman |
| Produced by |
William Goetz Raymond Griffith |
| Written by |
C. Graham Baker Gene Towne (screenplay) Walter Winchell (original story) |
| Music by | Alfred Newman |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 90 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Broadway Through a Keyhole, also billed as Broadway Thru a Keyhole, is a 1933 American pre-Code musical film produced by Twentieth Century Pictures and released by United Artists.
The film is perhaps most notable for the New York City speakeasy proprietress Texas Guinan appearing as a fictionalized version of herself. It also features early appearances by Lucille Ball, Ann Sothern, and Susan Fleming. The film is based on an original story by Broadway columnist Walter Winchell.
Plot
Racketeer Frank Rocci is smitten with Joan Whelan, a dancer at Texas Guinan's famous Broadway night spot. He uses his influence to help her get a starring role in the show, hoping that it will also get Joan to fall in love with him. After scoring a hit, Joan accepts Frank's marriage proposal, more out of gratitude than love. The situation gets even stickier when she falls for a handsome band leader during a trip to Florida. Can she tell Frank she's in love with someone else?
Cast
- Constance Cummings as Joan Whelan
- Russ Columbo as Clark Brian
- Paul Kelly as Frank Rocci
- Blossom Seeley as Sybil Smith
- Gregory Ratoff as Max Mefoofski
- Texas Guinan as Tex Kaley
- Abe Lyman as Orchestra Leader
- Hugh O'Connell as Chuck Haskins
- Hobart Cavanaugh as Peanuts Dinwiddie
- Frances Williams as Frances Williams
- Eddie Foy, Jr. as Joan's partner
- George Mann as George Mann - Columnist
- C. Henry Gordon as Tim Crowley
- William Burress as Thomas Barnum
- Helen Jerome Eddy as Esther
- Lucille Ball as Chorine (uncredited)
- Susan Fleming as Chorine (uncredited)
- Ann Sothern as Singer (uncredited)