Scatterbrain
1940 · Movie · 73 min. · United States
Eddie MacIntyre, press agent, talent scout and right-hand man to J. R. Russell, a producer-director at Perfection Pictures, contrives a scheme to plant his girl friend, actress Esther Harrington, in the Ozark Mountains and then discover her for the role of Ruthybelle in an upcoming Perfection production. With full approval of Nicolas Raptis, the president of Perfection Pictures, Eddie farms Esther out to a hillbilly family, where she is to remain until she is discovered. Although J. R. has heard a recording of Esther's voice, he has never seen her, and consequently, when he arrives in the Ozarks, he discovers the wrong girl and signs Judy Hull, daughter of an Ozark family. The mistake is not discovered until Judy and her pappy arrive in Hollywood. Because there are no loopholes in Judy's contract, Perfection is obliged to use her, but if they star her in a picture, they fear her hillbilly antics will make them the laughing stock of the industry. To make matters worse, they cannot admit their error, and Esther is threatening Eddie with dire consequences if she is not given the role. At last a loophole is discovered: Judy's contract is null and void if she marries. J. R. tells Eddie that because he got Perfection into the mess, it is his duty to marry Judy and break her contract. Aghast, Eddie hires Professor DeLemma, an expert in mind control, to convince Judy that she doesn't want to be a movie star. Unfortunately, the professor's system fails and Judy insists upon remaining in Hollywood. In a fit of spite, Esther brings Judy's screen test to a press party, where, to everyone's surprise, Judy's test is a big hit. Just as J. R. discovers he has a star on his hands, the professor's spell begins to work and Judy announces that she is returning home. After much difficulty, the professor repeals his spell and Judy becomes a star.
Direction Gus Meins
Cast Judy Canova · Alan Mowbray · Ruth Donnelly · Eddie Foy Jr. · Joseph Cawthorne · Wallace Ford · Isabel Jewell · Luis Alberni · Billy Gilbert · Emmett Lynn
Soundtrack William Lava
Screenplay Val Burton · Jack Townley · Paul Conlan
Cinematography Ernest Miller
Original title Scatterbrain
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Not rated (FilmAffinity)
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