''Cowboy in Manhattan'' is a 1943 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

Frank Woodruff Frank Woodruff (1906–1983) was an American film director of the 1940s.Fetrow p.400 He also produced and directed a number of episodes of the television show ''The Bigelow Theatre'' in the early 1950s. Filmography * ''Curtain Call (1940 film), ...

and written by Warren Wilson. The film stars

Robert Paige Robert Paige (born John Arthur Paige, December 2, 1911 – December 21, 1987) was an actor and a TV newscaster and political correspondent and Universal Pictures leading man who made 65 films in his lifetime: he was the only actor ever allowed t ...

Frances Langford Julia Frances Newbern-Langford (April 4, 1913 – July 11, 2005) was an American singer and actress who was popular during the Golden Age of Radio and made film and television appearances for over two decades. She was known as the "GI Nighting ...

, Leon Errol, Walter Catlett, Joe Sawyer and

Jennifer Holt Jennifer Holt (born Elizabeth Marshall Holt; November 10, 1920 – September 21, 1997) was an American actress. Early years She was born in Hollywood, California, to actor Jack Holt and his wife, Margaret Woods. She was the sister of wes ...

. The film was released on May 21, 1943, by

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

Plot

Producer Ace Robbins (Walter Catlett) induces a group of rich Texans to finance his new play, but they demand that it open by December 29 (the day Texas was admitted as a state). To generate free publicity, Robbins plants a fake story about star Barbara Lee (Frances Langford) having an affair. She is furious, and threatens to quit if he does it again. Texan and songwriter Bob Allen (Robert Paige) shows up the week before the show is to open, and tries to get Robbins to use his songs in the play. Robbins refuses his offer. With ticket sales faltering, Allen comes up with a scheme: He'll impersonate a Texas cattle baron who is in love with Barbare Lee and pretend to buy up all the tickets for the show. This will dupe the public into thinking the show is a hit, and subsequently create demand for the show. On opening night, Allen (in his cattle baron disguise) interrupts the musical and demands that the cast sing songs he himself has written. Robbins is furious, but Allen says he'll reveal the love-affair scheme if he's stopped. Barbara and the cast like the songs, and the show is rewritten. When Barbara learns that "the cattle baron" is a fake, she goes into hiding with the help of nightclub owner Louie Moran (Joe Sawyer). When Robbins presses Moran about Barbara's whereabout, Moran says she'd been kidnapped by a vicious criminal. Bob Allen, who by now has fallen in love with Barbara, raises $25,000 to free her. Moran pockets the money, and tells Robbins and Allen where their star is hiding out. Moran has surrounded Barbara by a bunch of thugs to prevent Robbins and Allen from recapturing her, but Allen fights his way through to her. Allen confesses that he loves Barbara, and she returns his affections. Barbara arrives back at the theater just in time for the opening curtain. Allen's uncle, having discovered that Bob has punched out some criminals, decides to give Bob a $2 million inheritance now that he's proven he is a "real Texan". The show is a huge hit.

Cast

as Bob Allen *

as Barbara "Babs" Lee * Leon Errol as Hank * Walter Catlett as Ace Robbins * Joe Sawyer as Louie Moran *

as Mitzi * George Cleveland as Wild Bill * Will Wright as Higgins * Dorothy Granger as Tommy *Lorin Raker as Potter *Marek Windheim as Count Kardos * Jack Mulhall as Headwaiter * Matt McHugh as Cab Driver *Tommy Mack as Mac * Billy Nelson as Bill

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0035761, Cowboy in Manhattan 1943 films 1940s English-language films American comedy films 1943 comedy films Universal Pictures films American black-and-white films Films directed by Frank Woodruff 1940s American films English-language comedy films