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{{short description|1930 film}}
{{use mdy dates|date=November 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
|name = Going Wild
| name = Going Wild
|image = lcgoingwild.jpg
| image = lcgoingwild.jpg
|caption= Lobby card
| caption = Lobby card
⚫
| director = [[William A. Seiter]]
|image_size= 200px
|producer = [[William A. Seiter]]
| producer = William A. Seiter
⚫
| based_on = {{Based on|''The Aviator''<br>1910 play|[[James Montgomery (playwright)|James Montgomery]]}}
⚫
|director = William A. Seiter
⚫
| writer = [[Henry McCarty (writer)|Henry McCarty]]<br>Humphrey Pearson
⚫
| based on ={{Based on|''The Aviator'' (play)|[[James Montgomery (playwright)|James Montgomery]]}}
⚫
| starring = [[Joe E. Brown (comedian)|Joe E. Brown]]<br>[[Ona Munson]]<br>[[Walter Pidgeon]]
⚫
|writer = [[Henry McCarty]]<br>Humphrey Pearson
⚫
| music = [[Erno Rapee]]<br>David Mendoza (composer)
⚫
|starring = [[Joe E. Brown (comedian)|Joe E. Brown]]<br>[[Ona Munson]]<br>[[Walter Pidgeon]]
⚫
| cinematography = [[Sol Polito]]
⚫
|music = [[Erno Rapee]]<br>David Mendoza (composer)
⚫
| editing = Peter Fritch
|art direction = [[Anton Grot]]
⚫
| studio = [[First National Pictures]]
⚫
|cinematography = [[Sol Polito]]
⚫
| distributor = First National Pictures
⚫
|editing = Peter Fritch
⚫
| released = {{Film date|1930|12|21}}
⚫
|studio = [[First National Pictures]]
⚫
| runtime = 68 minutes
⚫
|distributor = First National Pictures
⚫
| language = English
⚫
|released = {{Film date|1930|12|21}}
⚫
| country = United States
⚫
|runtime = 68 minutes
⚫
}}
⚫
|language = English
⚫
|country = United States
⚫
|}}


'''''Going Wild''''' is a 1930 [[Warner Brothers]] [[Pre-Code]] comedy film, based on the 1910 play ''The Aviator'' by James Montgomery, and directed by [[William A. Seiter]]. The film stars a bevy of musical stars in addition to the three comic stars, [[Joe E. Brown]], [[Frank McHugh]] and [[Johnny Arthur]]. The flying sequences are the highlight of the film.<ref>Wynne 1987, p. 173.</ref>
'''''Going Wild''''' is a 1930 [[Warner Brothers]] [[pre-Code]] comedy film based on the 1910 play ''The Aviator'' by James Montgomery and directed by [[William A. Seiter]]. The film stars many musical stars along with [[Joe E. Brown]], [[Frank McHugh]] and [[Johnny Arthur]].<ref>Wynne 1987, p. 173.</ref><ref>[https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/9416?sid The AFI Catalog of Feature Films 1893-1993:''Going Wild'']</ref>

A print is held in the [[Library of Congress]] collection.<ref>''Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress'', (<-book title) p.69 c.1978 by The American Film Institute</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
Rollo Smith (Joe E. Brown) and his friend Jack Lane ([[Lawrence Gray]]) are down on their luck and have stowed away on a train, finding a place in the compartment of ace pilot and writer Robert Story ([[Arthur Hoyt]]). The conductor ([[Fred Kelsey]]) tosses the pair off the train just where the famous writer is supposed to arrive, with Rollo being mistaken for Story.
Rollo Smith and his friend Jack Lane are down on their luck and have stowed away on a train, finding a place in the compartment of ace pilot and writer Robert Story. The conductor ejects Rollo and Jack from the train just where the famous writer is supposed to arrive, and Rollo is mistaken for Story.


Peggy Freeman ([[Laura Lee]]) and May Bunch (May Boley) both vie for Rollo's attention, believing that he is a famous pilot. The two freeloaders get free room and meals at the Palm Inn and everything is going well until Story is invited to fly in an air race, facing a real aviator, "Ace" Benton ([[Walter Pidgeon]]), and a chance to win a $25,000 wager. The only problem is that Rollo has never even been in an aircraft. With the girls betting on him, and Peggy disguised as his mechanic and smuggling aboard an aircraft, he somehow makes it into the air, but then everything becomes harried as he can barely control the aircraft. Ferguson (Max Wagner), the real pilot who Peggy had locked in a closet, shows up, but Rollo continues to put on an aerial show, forcing Ace to abandon the race.
Peggy Freeman and May Bunch both vie for Rollo's attention, believing that he is a famous pilot. The girls receive free room and meals at the Palm Inn. Rollo, who has never flown, is invited to fly in an air race as Story against a real aviator, "Ace" Benton, with a chance to win a $25,000 wager. After he somehow lifts the plane off the ground, Rollo can barely control the aircraft. Ferguson, the real pilot whom Peggy had locked in a closet, appears, but Rollo continues to unwittingly perform an aerial show, forcing Ace to abandon the race.


When Peggy accidentally pulls her parachute ring, Rollo joins her as they safely float to earth and he proposes.
When Peggy accidentally pulls her parachute ring, Rollo joins her as they safely float to earth and he proposes.


==Cast==
==Cast==
{{col-begin}}{{col-break}}
* [[Joe E. Brown]] as Rollo Smith
* [[Joe E. Brown]] as Rollo Smith
* [[Lawrence Gray]] as Jack Lane
* [[Lawrence Gray]] as Jack Lane
Line 39: Line 39:
* Laura Lee as Peggy Freeman
* Laura Lee as Peggy Freeman
* [[Frank McHugh]] as "Ricky" Freeman
* [[Frank McHugh]] as "Ricky" Freeman
* May Boley as May Bunch
* [[May Boley]] as May Bunch
{{col-break|gap=4em}}
* [[Anders Randolf]] as Edward Howard
* [[Anders Randolf]] as Edward Howard
* [[Arthur Hoyt]] as Robert Story
* [[Arthur Hoyt]] as Robert Story
Line 47: Line 46:
* [[Harvey Clark (actor)|Harvey Clark]] as Herndon Reamer
* [[Harvey Clark (actor)|Harvey Clark]] as Herndon Reamer
* [[Max Wagner]] as Ferguson
* [[Max Wagner]] as Ferguson
{{col-end}}


==Production==
==Production==
[[File:Screen shot Going Wild.png|thumb|The last 10 minutes of ''Going Wild'' showcased an impromptu aerial duel.]]
[[File:Screen shot Going Wild.png|thumb|The last 10 minutes of ''Going Wild'' showcase an impromptu aerial duel.]]
''Going Wild'' was filmed in [[Glendale, California]] at the Griffith Park Aerodrome (near Hollywood), using the California National Guard hangars with additional scenes shot at the Warner Brothers Burbank Studios. A [[Travel Air 2000|Travel Air B-4000]] (c/n 1323, NC688K) appearing as the "Blue Star" is the same aircraft that appears in films the ''[[Tailspin Tommy]]'' series (1934) and ''[[Wings in the Dark]]'' (1935). The character Ace Barton flies a [[Travel Air 2000|Travel Air 9000/4000]] (c/n 381, NC4421), named "The Zoom", later appearing in ''[[Skyway]]'' (1933).<ref>Santoir, Christian. [http://www.aeromovies.fr/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=1352 "Going Wild".] ''aeromovies.fr''. Retrieved: November 26, 2014.</ref>
''Going Wild'' was filmed in [[Glendale, California]] at the [[Griffith Park]] Aerodrome using [[California National Guard]] hangars, with additional scenes shot at the [[Warner Bros.]] studios. A [[Travel Air 2000|Travel Air B-4000]] (c/n 1323, NC688K) appearing as the Blue Star is the same aircraft that appears in the ''[[Tailspin Tommy]]'' film series (1934) and ''[[Wings in the Dark]]'' (1935). The character of Ace Barton flies a [[Travel Air 2000|Travel Air 9000/4000]] (c/n 381, NC4421) named the Zoom, later appearing in ''[[Skyway]]'' (1933).<ref>Santoir, Christian. [http://www.aeromovies.fr/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=1352 "Going Wild".] ''aeromovies.fr''. Retrieved: November 26, 2014.</ref>


⚫
The film was originally intended as a musical, but only one song, "My Hero Mine," is featured, sung by Joe E. Brown and Laura Lee. Several other musical numbers are heard in the background throughout the film. The press sheet for the film did not mention "My Hero Mine."<ref name="Barrios p. 330">Barrios 1995, p. 330.</ref> During production, many cuts to the film were made, including all of the original music. Two other films featuring Brown, ''[[Top Speed (film)|Top Speed]]'' (1930) and ''[[Sit Tight]]'' (1931), met the same fate.<ref name="Barrios p. 330" /> {{#tag:ref|Due to the backlash against musicals, all of the musical talent in ''Going Wild'' were released from their Warner Bros. contracts by 1931.|group=Note}}
Originally intended as a musical, with Lawrence Gray, Ona Munson, Walter Pidgeon, Laura Lee and May Boley, all musical stars, who were given contracts by Warner Bros. for their musical talents. Despite all the musical talent in the film, only one song, "My Hero Mine" appeared (sung by Joe E. Brown and Laura Lee), and a few musical numbers that were more background than featured songs. The press sheet for the film did not even mention this song.<ref name="Barrios p. 330">Barrios 1995, p. 330.</ref>


⚫
A French version titled ''L'aviateur'' was released in 1931.<ref>[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/3239/Going-Wild/notes.html "Notes: Going Wild."] ''Turner Classic Movies''. Retrieved: November 26, 2014.</ref>
⚫
During production, many cuts to the film were made, including all of the original music. Two other films featuring Joe E. Brown, ''[[Top Speed]]'' (1930) and ''[[Sit Tight]]'' (1931) met the same fate.<ref name="Barrios p. 330"/> {{#tag:ref|Due to the backlash against musicals, all of the musical talent in ''Going Wild'' were released from their Warner Bros. contracts by 1931.|group=Note}}


⚫
==Reception==
A number of scenes reflected the pre-Code films that tended to be more adult and "racier":
In a contemporary review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', critic [[Mordaunt Hall]] wrote: "It is a farce that depends more upon actions than words, and it was no wonder that the spectators at an early showing of this film actually shrieked with laughter and really rocked in their seats. It is an ingenious affair which is not particularly novel, but the manner in which it is worked out is decidedly clever. There are several episodes that defy anybody to keep a straight face."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hall |first=Mordaunt |date=1931-01-26 |title=The Screen |page=21 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
* Johnny Arthur plays a gay character.
* As the fake Robert Story, Joe E. Brown in signing autographs on the book, ''Whatever Goes Up!'' for a group of adoring women, he also adds his room number.
* When Lawrence Gray tells Joe E. Brown about his new girlfriend, Brown declares "I love you too. I'm mad about you. Kiss me" while he puckers up for Gray.
* Although the hotel is full, an attractive woman asks the hotel manager (Frank McHugh) that she desperately needs a room and he tells the front boy to set up a cot in his office and winks at her.


Aviation-film historian Stephen Pendo has noted that ''Going Wild'' contains a similar theme to that of ''[[The Aviator (1929 film)|The Aviator]]'' (1929).<ref name="Pendo">Pendo 1985, p. 36.</ref>
⚫
===Preservation===
⚫
''Going Wild'' survives only in the cut version which was released in late 1930 by Warner Brothers. The complete film was released intact in countries outside the United States. It is unknown whether a copy of this full version still exists. This version is also on DVD through the [[Warner Archive Collection]].


⚫
== Preservation status ==
==Foreign language versions==
⚫
''Going Wild'' survives only in the edited version that was released in late 1930 by Warner Bros. The complete film was released intact in countries outside the United States, but it is unknown whether a copy of this full version still exists.
⚫
One [[foreign language version]] of the 1930 version of ''Going Wild'' was made. The French version was titled ''L'aviateur'' and was released in 1931.<ref>[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/3239/Going-Wild/notes.html "Notes: Going Wild."] ''Turner Classic Movies''. Retrieved: November 26, 2014.</ref>


The edited version has been released on [[DVD]] through the [[Warner Archive Collection]].
⚫
==Reception==
Mourdant Hall in his review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', reflected on the critical and audience reaction to ''Going Wild''. "It is a farce that depends more upon actions than words, and it was no wonder that the spectators at an early showing of this film actually shrieked with laughter and really rocked in their seats. ... It is an ingenious affair which is not particularly novel, but the manner in which it is worked out is decidedly clever."<ref>Hall, Mourdant. [http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9802E1D9173AEE3ABC4E51DFB766838A629EDE "Movie review."] ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 26, 1931.</ref> Critics loved the antics of Joe E. Brown. "... And about that face: critics averred that the scene in which Brown opens his famously cavernous mouth when a doctor tells him to say 'aaaah' was 'worth the price of admission all by itself'."<ref>LeVoit, Violet. [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/3239/Going-Wild/articles.html "Articles: Going Wild."] ''Turner Classic Movies''. Retrieved: November 26, 2014.</ref> Aviation film historian Stephen Pendo noted ''Going Wild'' had a similar theme to ''[[The Aviator (1929 film)|The Aviator]]'' (1929).<ref name="Pendo">Pendo 1985, p. 36.</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 78: Line 71:


===Citations===
===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}


===Bibliography===
===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
{{Refbegin}}
* Barrios, Richard. ''A Song in the Dark: The Birth of the Musical Film''. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0-19508-811-3.
* Barrios, Richard. ''A Song in the Dark: The Birth of the Musical Film''. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. {{ISBN|978-0-19508-811-3}}.
* Pendo, Stephen. ''Aviation in the Cinema''. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1985. ISBN 0-8-1081-746-2.
* Pendo, Stephen. ''Aviation in the Cinema''. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1985. {{ISBN|0-8-1081-746-2}}.
* Wynne, H. Hugh. ''The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood's Classic Aviation Movies.'' Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1987. ISBN 0-933126-85-9.
* Wynne, H. Hugh. ''The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood's Classic Aviation Movies.'' Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1987. {{ISBN|0-933126-85-9}}.
{{Refend}}
{{Refend}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{tcmdb title|id=3239}}
* {{TCMDb title|id=3239}}
* {{IMDb title|0020924|Going Wild (1930)}}
* {{IMDb title|0020924|Going Wild (1930)}}
* {{allMovie title|93430|synopsis}}
* {{AFI film|9416}}


{{William A. Seiter}}
{{William A. Seiter}}


[[Category:1930 films]]
[[Category:1930 films]]
[[Category:Films made before the MPAA Production Code]]
[[Category:First National Pictures films]]
[[Category:First National Pictures films]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:1930s English-language films]]
⚫
[[Category:American films]]
⚫
[[Category:Lost films]]
[[Category:Films directed by William A. Seiter]]
[[Category:Films directed by William A. Seiter]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Aviation films]]
[[Category:American aviation films]]
[[Category:1930s musical films]]
[[Category:1930 musical comedy films]]
⚫
[[Category:American musical comedy films]]
⚫
[[Category:1930s American films]]
[[Category:English-language musical comedy films]]

Latest revision as of 03:02, 30 September 2024

Going Wild
Lobby card
Directed byWilliam A. Seiter
Written byHenry McCarty
Humphrey Pearson
Based onThe Aviator
1910 play
by James Montgomery
Produced byWilliam A. Seiter
StarringJoe E. Brown
Ona Munson
Walter Pidgeon
CinematographySol Polito
Edited byPeter Fritch
Music byErno Rapee
David Mendoza (composer)
Production
company
Distributed byFirst National Pictures
Release date
  • December 21, 1930 (1930-12-21)
Running time
68 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Going Wild is a 1930 Warner Brothers pre-Code comedy film based on the 1910 play The Aviator by James Montgomery and directed by William A. Seiter. The film stars many musical stars along with Joe E. Brown, Frank McHugh and Johnny Arthur.[1][2]

A print is held in the Library of Congress collection.[3]

Plot

[edit]

Rollo Smith and his friend Jack Lane are down on their luck and have stowed away on a train, finding a place in the compartment of ace pilot and writer Robert Story. The conductor ejects Rollo and Jack from the train just where the famous writer is supposed to arrive, and Rollo is mistaken for Story.

Peggy Freeman and May Bunch both vie for Rollo's attention, believing that he is a famous pilot. The girls receive free room and meals at the Palm Inn. Rollo, who has never flown, is invited to fly in an air race as Story against a real aviator, "Ace" Benton, with a chance to win a $25,000 wager. After he somehow lifts the plane off the ground, Rollo can barely control the aircraft. Ferguson, the real pilot whom Peggy had locked in a closet, appears, but Rollo continues to unwittingly perform an aerial show, forcing Ace to abandon the race.

When Peggy accidentally pulls her parachute ring, Rollo joins her as they safely float to earth and he proposes.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]
The last 10 minutes of Going Wild showcase an impromptu aerial duel.

Going Wild was filmed in Glendale, California at the Griffith Park Aerodrome using California National Guard hangars, with additional scenes shot at the Warner Bros. studios. A Travel Air B-4000 (c/n 1323, NC688K) appearing as the Blue Star is the same aircraft that appears in the Tailspin Tommy film series (1934) and Wings in the Dark (1935). The character of Ace Barton flies a Travel Air 9000/4000 (c/n 381, NC4421) named the Zoom, later appearing in Skyway (1933).[4]

The film was originally intended as a musical, but only one song, "My Hero Mine," is featured, sung by Joe E. Brown and Laura Lee. Several other musical numbers are heard in the background throughout the film. The press sheet for the film did not mention "My Hero Mine."[5] During production, many cuts to the film were made, including all of the original music. Two other films featuring Brown, Top Speed (1930) and Sit Tight (1931), met the same fate.[5] [Note 1]

A French version titled L'aviateur was released in 1931.[6]

Reception

[edit]

In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Mordaunt Hall wrote: "It is a farce that depends more upon actions than words, and it was no wonder that the spectators at an early showing of this film actually shrieked with laughter and really rocked in their seats. It is an ingenious affair which is not particularly novel, but the manner in which it is worked out is decidedly clever. There are several episodes that defy anybody to keep a straight face."[7]

Aviation-film historian Stephen Pendo has noted that Going Wild contains a similar theme to that of The Aviator (1929).[8]

Preservation status

[edit]

Going Wild survives only in the edited version that was released in late 1930 by Warner Bros. The complete film was released intact in countries outside the United States, but it is unknown whether a copy of this full version still exists.

The edited version has been released on DVD through the Warner Archive Collection.

References

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Due to the backlash against musicals, all of the musical talent in Going Wild were released from their Warner Bros. contracts by 1931.

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ Wynne 1987, p. 173.
  2. ^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films 1893-1993:Going Wild
  3. ^ Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress, (<-book title) p.69 c.1978 by The American Film Institute
  4. ^ Santoir, Christian. "Going Wild". aeromovies.fr. Retrieved: November 26, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Barrios 1995, p. 330.
  6. ^ "Notes: Going Wild." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: November 26, 2014.
  7. ^ Hall, Mordaunt (January 26, 1931). "The Screen". The New York Times. p. 21.
  8. ^ Pendo 1985, p. 36.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Barrios, Richard. A Song in the Dark: The Birth of the Musical Film. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0-19508-811-3.
  • Pendo, Stephen. Aviation in the Cinema. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1985. ISBN 0-8-1081-746-2.
  • Wynne, H. Hugh. The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood's Classic Aviation Movies. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1987. ISBN 0-933126-85-9.
[edit]
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