For the sake of a lucrative radio contract, John Barrymore agrees to turn bandleader Kay Kyser into a Shakespearian actor.
Lulu Monahan (Patsy Kelly), the press agent for John Barrymore (John Barrymore),is attempting to get a sponsor for a radio program. To that end, she and the agent for bandleader Kay Kyser (Kay Kyser), plant a story that the great Shakespearean actor, over his heartfelt objections, will teach Kyser how to play Shakespeare, which isn't the same as playing Paducah, which soon becomes evident. Highlights are the singing of Ginny Simms and a rumba by Lupe Velez; lowlights already cited.—Les Adams <[email protected]>
Fictional story centered on real life bandleader Kay Kyser and his band, and actor John Barrymore, each portraying an exaggerated version of himself in playing up his respective public persona, Kyser as the naive southern country boy, and Barrymore as the temperamental Shakespearean actor. Peter Lindsay and Lulu Monahan are the respective publicity agents for Kyser and Barrymore, both agents who will do anything to promote his/her client, and each who is having problems. Kyser, while popular, is seen as boring, whereas Barrymore is fading from public consciousness in Shakespeare not exactly the most popular of entertainment, with his scandalous personal antics no longer newsworthy. Lulu is trying to get Barrymore a lucrative endorsement contract for a vitamin company, but company president Nelson Pennypacker doesn't see a Shakespearean actor as pulling in money for him. To do both their clients some good, Peter comes up with the idea to pair Kyser and Barrymore to do Shakespeare, Kyser under Barrymore's tutelage. Through manipulation of Mrs. Pennypacker, Lulu is able to convince Pennypacker to sign Barrymore on the condition that a highly publicized festival, a charity event of Shakespeare, is held at the Pennypackers' Southampton estate highlighting Barrymore and Kyser's collaboration just before the launch of the new campaign in two month's time. Both Kyser and Barrymore hate the idea, Kyser who believes he would make a fool of himself and Barrymore, while Barrymore refuses to share the Shakespearean stage with a bandleader, a country bumpkin at that. But Kyser is game if it's for charity, while Barrymore feels compelled to it if only because he needs the money in owing the IRS. Barrymore has a side plan in believing he can have his cake and eat it too by arranging to hold the festival without Kyser.—Huggo
