Shipping clerk Joe Holt is mistaken for a swimming champion and expected to compete in a long-distance swim race off Catalina Island.Shipping clerk Joe Holt is mistaken for a swimming champion and expected to compete in a long-distance swim race off Catalina Island.Shipping clerk Joe Holt is mistaken for a swimming champion and expected to compete in a long-distance swim race off Catalina Island.
Preston Foster
- Ed Dover
- (as Preston S. Foster)
Allen 'Farina' Hoskins
- Sam Wellington
- (as Farina)
Oscar Apfel
- Armstrong
- (uncredited)
Spencer Bell
- Porter
- (uncredited)
Don Brodie
- Judge's Assistant
- (uncredited)
William Burress
- Roger Colby
- (uncredited)
A.S. 'Pop' Byron
- Elliott
- (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler
- Harbor Steward
- (uncredited)
James Eagles
- Messenger
- (uncredited)
Bess Flowers
- Race Fan on Boat
- (uncredited)
June Gittelson
- Fat Swimmer in Lane #1
- (uncredited)
Frank Hagney
- Holt's Manager
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAccording to studio records, shooting took 31 days.
- GoofsSam helps Joe grease up for the big swimming race. In the first shot (close-up), he is greasing Joe's right thigh, and Joe's leg below the knee is clean. The next close-up shows Sam working his way down Joe's calf. In a subsequent long shot, Joe's right calf is greased up to the knee, but his thigh is clean.
- Quotes
Harry Daniels: Now, everybody, back to your desks and into depression.
- SoundtracksAvalon
(uncredited)
Composed by Vincent Rose
Based on "E lucevan le stelle" from "Tosca" by Giacomo Puccini
[Played during the opening photo credits and often in the score]
Featured review
A moment of history
1932. The snappy opening music. The Dilbert with his Big Idea, laughed out of the office. Goes to L.A. to get an inheritance. Thanks to a shyster lawyer, ends up with only 5 dollars and a pickaninny. Destitiute, As it happened, our hero and ward were bound for Catalina for a $6 day job, when fate stepped in. Mistaken for a marathon swimmer and ends up in the Catalina race for $25,000, though he can't swim. Plug Joe E. Brown into this farce, and you have an early talkie classic. Of course, much of this will offend the politically correct, and much of the humor will escape current audiences. But there are so many fun moments -- the mock-cerebral inner dialogs of the half-wit hero, the amazing costumes (were they serious back then?), the vintage shots of Catalina Island, Ginger Rogers' fresh plump face, the wonderful "I found my heart in Avalon" soundtrack....
In real life, Wrigley had offered a $25,000 prize for swimming first from Catalina to the mainland. And some actually entered who couldn't swim. But 1932 was the Depression, and people would do anything for a windfall, even if they couldn't.
Of course, much of this seems corny and dated, but watch it more than once, and I think the rustic charm will grow on you. There will never be another Joe E. Brown. After all, "Nobody's perfect."
In real life, Wrigley had offered a $25,000 prize for swimming first from Catalina to the mainland. And some actually entered who couldn't swim. But 1932 was the Depression, and people would do anything for a windfall, even if they couldn't.
Of course, much of this seems corny and dated, but watch it more than once, and I think the rustic charm will grow on you. There will never be another Joe E. Brown. After all, "Nobody's perfect."
helpful•125
- jacksflicks
- Mar 22, 2010
- How long is You Said a Mouthful?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Galopperande fisken
- Filming locations
- William Wrigley Jr. Summer Cottage or Mt. Ada, 76 Wrigley Road, Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, California, USA(outdoor balcony overlooking Avalon Bay)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $223,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 10 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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