''Man About Town'' is a 1939 musical comedy film starring

Jack Benny Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky, February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974) was an American entertainer who evolved from a modest success playing violin on the vaudeville circuit to one of the leading entertainers of the twentieth century wit ...

Dorothy Lamour Dorothy Lamour (born Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton; December 10, 1914 – September 22, 1996) was an American actress and singer. She is best remembered for having appeared in the '' Road to...'' movies, a series of successful comedies starring Bing ...

, and Edward Arnold. The screenplay concerns a producer who tries to get his leading lady to take him seriously romantically by pursuing other women. Then-Sen.

Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Franklin ...

saw the movie in Washington, and wrote in a letter home to his wife that he enjoyed it.Frank, Jeffrey, ''The Trials of Harry S. Truman'' (Simon & Schuster 2022), p. xx

Cast

*Jack Benny as Bob Temple *Dorothy Lamour as Diana Wilson *Edward Arnold as Sir John Arlington *

Binnie Barnes Gertrude Maud Barnes (25 March 1903 – 27 July 1998), known professionally as Binnie Barnes, was an English actress whose career in films spanned from 1923 to 1973. Early life Barnes was born in Islington, London, the daughter of Rosa Enoy ...

as Lady Arlington * Monty Woolley as Henri Dubois *

Isabel Jeans Isabel Jeans (16 September 1891 – 4 September 1985) was an English stage and film actress known for her roles in several Alfred Hitchcock films and her portrayal of Aunt Alicia in the 1958 musical film '' Gigi''. Early life and career Bo ...

as Mme. Dubois *

Phil Harris Wonga Philip Harris (June 24, 1904 – August 11, 1995) was an American actor, comedian, musician and songwriter. He was an orchestra leader and a pioneer in radio situation comedy, first with ''The Jack Benny Program'', then in '' The Phil Harr ...

as Ted Nash *

Betty Grable Elizabeth Ruth Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973) was an American actress, pin-up girl, dancer, model, and singer. Her 42 films during the 1930s and 1940s grossed more than $100 million; for 10 consecutive years (1942–1951) she reign ...

as Susan Hayes * E. E. Clive as Hotchkiss * Eddie Anderson as Rochester *The Merriel Abbott Dancers as Themselves *

Matty Malneck Matthew Michael "Matty" Malneck (December 9, 1903 – February 25, 1981) was an American jazz violinist, songwriter, and arranger. Career Born in 1903, Malneck's career as a violinist began when he was age 16. He was a member of the Paul White ...

and His Orchestra as Themselves *The Pina Troupe as Themselves * Charles Coleman as Hotel Doorman (uncredited) *

Cecil Kellaway Cecil Lauriston Kellaway (22 August 1890 – 28 February 1973) was a South African character actor. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor twice, for '' The Luck of the Irish'' (1948) and '' Guess Who's Coming to Dinner ...

as Headwaiter (uncredited) * Cliff Severn as English Bellboy (uncredited)

References

External links

* * * 1939 films 1939 musical comedy films 1939 romantic comedy films American black-and-white films American musical comedy films American romantic comedy films 1930s English-language films Films about musical theatre Films directed by Mark Sandrich Films set in country houses Films set in London Paramount Pictures films 1930s American films {{romantic-musical-film-stub