Are You Listening? (1932)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Harry Beaumont

Writer:

Dwight Taylor (writer)

Release Date:

24 April 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Cast

William Haines	...	Bill Grimes
Madge Evans	...	Laura O'Neil
Anita Page	...	Sally O'Neil
Karen Morley	...	Alice Grimes
Neil Hamilton	...	Jack Clayton
Wallace Ford	...	Larry Barnes
Jean Hersholt	...	George Wagner
Joan Marsh	...	Honey O'Neil
John Miljan	...	Ted Russell
Murray Kinnell	...	Carson
Ethel Griffies	...	Mrs. Peters
Hattie McDaniel	...	Singer
Rolfe Sedan	...	Hotel Manager
Louise Carter	...	Mrs. O'Neil
Charles Coleman	...	Butler
Charley Grapewin	...	Pierce
Frank Whitlock	...	Radio Announcer
Herman Bing	...	Actor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Wade Boteler	...	Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
Frank Darien	...	Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Jesse De Vorska	...	Mr. Chutzpah (uncredited)
James Donlan	...	Butch (uncredited)
Ben Hall	...	Yokel (uncredited)
Lucien Littlefield	...	Fred (uncredited)
Hank Mann	...	Sound Effects Man (uncredited)
Sam McDaniel	...	Prisoner at Train Station (uncredited)
Gene Morgan	...	Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
Virginia Sale	...	Marjorie (uncredited)

Directed by
Harry Beaumont

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Dwight Taylor		writer

Cinematography by
Harold Rosson

Film Editing by
Frank Sullivan

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Runtime:

73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

William Haines in His Final MGM Film

In his final film for MGM, William Haines seems rather subdued here in a film that starts out as a romantic comedy/drama but then turns into a murder melodrama. If nothing else, this film proves that Haines could play it "straight" and not always fall back on his "silly billy" character.

Haines plays a radio writer married (but separated) to a sullen and greedy woman (Karen Morley) while he romances a co-worker (Madge Evans). Morley will not give up her meal ticket and bleeds Haines of everything he's got. But after he loses his job, Morley goes berserk and is accidentally killed.

In a subplot, Evans' roommate (Anita Page) who works at the radio station, takes in her kid sister (Joan Marsh) who goes wild in the big city and gets involved with older men (Jean Hersholt, Neil Hamilton).

In a neat twist, the radio, which is at first seen as a mindless form of entertainment, spoofed via the hokey shows Haines writes, turns deadly as a ruthless newspaper man (John Miljan) uses the radio to persecute and hunt down Haines after the death of his wife.

It all seems like a minor MGM film, but there are some interesting themes here. The ending is quite surprising.

As always, Haines is terrific. Evans and Page are solid here as is Morley as the nasty wife. Co-stars include Wallace Ford, Hattie McDaniel, Ethel Griffies, Herman Bing, and Charley Grapewin.