''The First Baby'' is a 1936 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
Lewis Seiler
Lewis Seiler (September 30, 1890 – January 8, 1964) was an American film director. He directed more than 80 films between 1923 and 1958.
Seiler was born in New York City and died in Hollywood, California.
Partial filmography
*''A Bankru ...
and written by
Lamar Trotti
Lamar Jefferson Trotti (October 18, 1900 – August 28, 1952) was an American screenwriter, producer, and motion picture executive.
Early life and education
Trotti was born in Atlanta, US. He became the first graduate of the Henry W. Grady Co ...
. The film stars
Johnny Downs
John Morey Downs (October 10, 1913 – June 6, 1994) was an American child actor, singer, and dancer. He began his career as a child actor, most notably playing Johnny in the ''Our Gang'' short series from 1923 to 1926. He remained active ...
,
Shirley Deane
Shirley Deane (born Shirley Deane Blattenberger; March 16, 1913 – April 26, 1983) was an American film actress.
Born to Jesse H. Blattenberger and his wife Zola (née Redden), she was raised by her maternal grandmother.
She was best known as ...
,
Jane Darwell
Jane Darwell (born Patti Woodard; October 15, 1879 – August 13, 1967) was an American actress of stage, film, and television. With appearances in more than 100 major movies spanning half a century, Darwell is perhaps best remembered for her p ...
,
Dixie Dunbar
Christina Elizabeth "Dixie" Dunbar (January 19, 1919 – August 29, 1991) was an American singer, film actress, and dancer.
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Dunbar grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. She began studying dancing as a child and went on to si ...
,
Marjorie Gateson
Marjorie Augusta Gateson (January 17, 1891 – April 17, 1977) was an American stage and film actress.
Biography
Gateson was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Augusta and Daniel Gateson. Her maternal grandfather and brother were clergymen; So ...
and
Gene Lockhart
Edwin Eugene Lockhart (July 18, 1891 – March 31, 1957)["Gene Lockhart"](_blank)
''The ...
. The film was released on April 2, 1936, by
20th Century Fox
20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
.
Plot
Cast
*
Johnny Downs
John Morey Downs (October 10, 1913 – June 6, 1994) was an American child actor, singer, and dancer. He began his career as a child actor, most notably playing Johnny in the ''Our Gang'' short series from 1923 to 1926. He remained active ...
as Johnny Ellis
*
Shirley Deane
Shirley Deane (born Shirley Deane Blattenberger; March 16, 1913 – April 26, 1983) was an American film actress.
Born to Jesse H. Blattenberger and his wife Zola (née Redden), she was raised by her maternal grandmother.
She was best known as ...
as Trudy Wells
*
Jane Darwell
Jane Darwell (born Patti Woodard; October 15, 1879 – August 13, 1967) was an American actress of stage, film, and television. With appearances in more than 100 major movies spanning half a century, Darwell is perhaps best remembered for her p ...
as Mrs. Ellis
*
Dixie Dunbar
Christina Elizabeth "Dixie" Dunbar (January 19, 1919 – August 29, 1991) was an American singer, film actress, and dancer.
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Dunbar grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. She began studying dancing as a child and went on to si ...
as Maude Holbrook
*
Marjorie Gateson
Marjorie Augusta Gateson (January 17, 1891 – April 17, 1977) was an American stage and film actress.
Biography
Gateson was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Augusta and Daniel Gateson. Her maternal grandfather and brother were clergymen; So ...
as Mrs. Wells
*
Gene Lockhart
Edwin Eugene Lockhart (July 18, 1891 – March 31, 1957)["Gene Lockhart"](_blank)
''The ...
as Mr. Ellis
*
Taylor Holmes
Taylor Holmes (May 16, 1878 – September 30, 1959) was an American actor who appeared in over 100 Broadway plays in his five-decade career. However, he is probably best remembered for his screen performances, which he began in silent films in ...
as Mr. Wells
*
Willard Robertson
Willard Robertson (January 1, 1886 – April 5, 1948) was an American actor and writer. He appeared in more than 140 films between 1924 and 1948. He was born in Runnels, Texas, and died in Hollywood, California.
Biography
Robertson first w ...
as Dr. Clarke
*
Hattie McDaniel
Hattie McDaniel (June 10, 1893October 26, 1952) was an American actress, singer-songwriter, and comedian. For her role as Mammy in ''Gone with the Wind'' (1939), she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first African ...
as Dora
References
External links
*
1936 films
American comedy films
1936 comedy films
20th Century Fox films
Films directed by Lewis Seiler
American black-and-white films
Films with screenplays by Lamar Trotti
Films scored by Samuel Kaylin
1930s English-language films
1930s American films
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