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Are You Listening? (1932) More at IMDb Pro »

9 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
William Haines in His Final MGM Film, 8 February 2008

Author: drednm

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.

3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
A Change of Pace for William Haines, 12 January 2000

Author: Ron Oliver (revilorest@juno.com) from Forest Ranch, CA

Although this film starts off like a typical Billy Haines comedy, it quickly becomes deadly serious. Haines plays a very unhappily married man, who finds himself with a very dead body on his hands & few plausible explanations. This gives him a chance to play a role quite different from his usual silly billys.

Haines' character is a radioman and the scenes in and around the broadcasting studio are quite well done.

An unusual number of lovely ladies can be found in support in this film: Anita Page, Madge Evans, Joan Marsh & Karen Morley. Jean Hersholt is also on hand to lend his grave presence to the proceedings.

ARE YOU LISTENING? was made only two years after Haines was king of the Hollywood box office. But his days at MGM were growing short. The following year, 1933, would be his last at the studio. Today his movies are all but forgotten.

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