''A Night at the Ritz'' is a 1935 American

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by

William C. McGann William C. McGannHe listed himself as "William M. Mcgann" in the World War I draft (April 15, 1893 – November 15, 1977) was an American film director. He directed more than 50 films between 1930 and 1942. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsyl ...

and starring

William Gargan William Dennis Gargan (July 17, 1905February 17, 1979) was an American film, television and radio actor. He was the 5th recipient of the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 1967, and in 1941, was nominated for the Academy Award for B ...

Patricia Ellis Patricia Ellis (born Patricia Gene O'Brien; died March 26, 1970) was an American film actress of the 1930s. Early years Born in Birmingham, Michigan, most likely in 1915 (although she gave her year of birth to the Social Security Administration ...

and

Allen Jenkins Allen Curtis Jenkins (born Alfred McGonegal; April 9, 1900 – July 20, 1974) was an American character actor and singer who worked on stage, film, and television. Life and career Jenkins was born on Staten Island, New York, on April 9, 190 ...

.Gledhill p.36 The

art direction Art director is the title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supervise and unify the visi ...

was by

Esdras Hartley Esdras Hartley (1892–1946) was the art director for the 1935 film Don't Bet on Blondes. He worked on over a hundred films during his career, many of them at the Hollywood studio Warner Brothers. Selected filmography * ''Miss Pacific Fleet'' ...

. The film is of interest because the storyline, involving a con artist trying to profit off an impersonation, somewhat anticipates the more-famous '' Nothing Sacred'' two years later.

Plot

Leopold Jaynos dreams of becoming a famous chef, despite the fact that he can't cook a whit. Fast-talking press agent Duke Regan, who's dating his sister Marcia, comes up with a scheme: He goes to the Ritz Hotel and tells manager Vincent that a world-famous Hungarian chef is coming to visit and to roll out the red carpet for him and his entourage (meaning Regan and sidekick Gyp). Vincent happily agrees, but with his own job on the line, begs Regan to get Leopold to become the new chef for the hotel. Problem: Regan doesn't know that Leopold can't really cook—those delicious meals he had at the Jaynos home were actually cooked by their mother.

Cast

as Duke Regan *

as Marcia Jaynos *

as Gyp Beagle *

Dorothy Tree Dorothy Tree (born Dorothy Estelle Triebitz, May 21, 1906 – February 13, 1992) was an American actress, voice teacher and writer. She appeared in a wide range of character roles in at least 49 films between 1927 and 1951. Her roles includ ...

as Kiki Lorraine * Erik Rhodes as Leopold Jaynos *

Berton Churchill Berton Churchill (December 9, 1876 – October 10, 1940) was a Canadian stage and film actor. Early years Churchill was born in Toronto, Ontario. After his family moved to New York City, he graduated from high school there, studied law a ...

as Stephen Vincent *

Gordon Westcott Gordon Westcott (born Myrthus Hickman, November 6, 1903 – October 30, 1935) was an American film actor. Biography Born in St. George, Utah, in 1903, Westcott studied architecture at the University of Chicago, where he was also lightweight ...

as Joe Scurvin *

Bodil Rosing Bodil Rosing (born Bodil Frederikke Hammerich; December 27, 1877 December 31, 1941) was a Danish-American film actress in the silent and sound eras. Early years Bodil Hammerich was born in Copenhagen, the daughter of music dean Angel Hammeri ...

as Mama Jaynos *

Arthur Hoyt Arthur Hoyt (March 19, 1874 – January 4, 1953) was an American film character actor who appeared in more than 275 films in his 34-year film career, about a third of them silent films. Career Born in Georgetown, Colorado, in 1874, Hoyt ma ...

as Mr. Hassler *

Paul Porcasi Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chris ...

as Henri *

William B. Davidson William Beatman Davidson (June 16, 1888 – September 28, 1947) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 300 films between 1915 and 1947. Early life Davidson was born in Dobbs Ferry, New York. He attended Columbia University, w ...

as Connolly, an Editor *

Mary Treen Mary Treen (born Mary Louise Summers, March 27, 1907 – July 20, 1989) was an American film and television actress. A minor actress for much of her career, she managed to secure a plain, unassuming niche for herself in the Hollywood of the ...

as Isabelle, Hassler's Secretary * Mary Russell as Miss Barry, Vincent's Secretary

References

Bibliography

* Christine Gledhill. ''Stardom: Industry of Desire''. Psychology Press, 1991.

External links

* 1935 films 1935 comedy films American comedy films Films directed by William C. McGann Warner Bros. films American black-and-white films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films {{1930s-comedy-film-stub