''Big Time or Bust'' is a 1933 American

comedy Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. Origins Comedy originated in ancient Greec ...

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

directed by

Sam Newfield Sam Newfield, born Samuel Neufeld (December 6, 1899 – November 10, 1964), also known as Sherman Scott or Peter Stewart, was an American Film director, director, one of the most prolific in American film history—he is credited with directin ...

, which stars

Regis Toomey John Francis Regis Toomey (August 13, 1898October 12, 1991) was an American film and television actor. Early life Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was one of four children of Francis X. and Mary Ellen Toomey, and attended Peabody High Sc ...

Gloria Shea Olive Gloria Shea (May 30, 1910 – February 8, 1995) was an American film actress. She was sometimes billed as Olive Shea. Biography Born in New York City, Shea received her schooling at the Convent of Notre Dame de Sande and was trained for ...

, and Walter Byron.

Plot

Jimmy Kane is a high diver in a carnival, with his wife, Betty Roberts as his assistant. Before every dive she yells up to him, "Okay, big boy!" When the carnival closes he decides to travel to New York City and attempt to make it in the big time. However, when they arrive in the city, Kane struggles to get into a show which takes advantage of his diving skills. To make ends meet, Betty takes a position as a singer in a nightclub. She attracts the attention of a handsome playboy, John Hammond. Hammond convinces a theatrical producer to cast her in his next Broadway musical, in which she becomes a huge success. As Betty's career takes off, Kane becomes more and more hurt and resentful that they are living off of her earnings. As the two drift apart, Betty and Hammond drift closer together. In addition to Hammond, Betty is also the center of attention of many other men. As Kane begins to hear rumors of Betty and Hammond having an affair, his morale drops even further. Hammond, an avowed playboy, falls in love with Betty, and gives her an engraved bracelet to show the depth of his affection. When Kane finds the bracelet, he suspects the worst, and leaves, heading back to the country to find a job in a rural carnival. When Betty learns where he has gone, she is distraught, and is determined to find him. Kane gains employment in a carnival, but as he is about to make his dive, he realizes he has lost his nerve. He is about to climb down in disgrace when he hears a voice from below yelling up to him, "Okay, big boy!" Looking down, he sees Betty looking up at him. He completes his dive successfully, and when he reunites with Betty, she vows to give up her career so the two of them can be together.

Cast

as Jimmy Kane *

as Betty Roberts * Walter Byron as John Hammond *

Nat Carr Nat Carr (August 12, 1886 – July 6, 1944, born Natan Krechevsky ) was an American character actor of the silent and early talking picture eras. During his eighteen-year career, Carr appeared in over 100 films, most of them features. Lif ...

as Lew Feld *

Charles Delaney Charles Delaney (August 9, 1892 – August 31, 1959) was an American actor. Biography Delaney was born in New York City in 1892. He was originally a motor mechanic and having learned to fly during World War I, he started doing flying vaud ...

as Paddy Mellon * Edwin Maxwell as Winthrop Allen *

Hooper Atchley Lemuel Hooper Atchley (April 30, 1887 – November 17, 1943) was an American film actor. Atchley was the son of Mr. and Mrs. P. S. Atchley. He was a 1908 graduate of the Knoxville, Tennessee, school system. Atchley's first professional ac ...

as Lewis

Reception

The Film Daily ''The Film Daily'' was a daily publication that existed from 1918 to 1970 in the United States. It was the first daily newspaper published solely for the film industry. It covered the latest trade news, film reviews, financial updates, informati ...

'' rated the picture "good", complimenting both the direction and photography. They felt the story was familiar, but well-developed. ''

Harrison's Reports ''Harrison's Reports'' was a New York City–based motion picture trade journal published weekly from 1919 to 1962. The typical issue was four letter-size pages sent to subscribers under a second-class mail permit. Its founder, editor and publish ...

'' gave the film a poor review, calling the story "trite" and predictable, and rating both the sound and photography sub-standard. However, they did compliment the acting work of Toomey and Shea. ''

Motion Picture Daily ''Motion Picture Daily'' was an American daily magazine focusing on the film industry. It was published by Quigley Publishing Company, which also published the '' Motion Picture Herald''. The magazine was formed by the merging of three existing Q ...

'' gave the film a similar review, calling the storyline unoriginal, but giving the cast good marks for their efforts. They also complimented the settings.

References

External links

* * * {{Sam Newfield American comedy-drama films 1933 comedy-drama films 1933 films American black-and-white films 1930s English-language films Films directed by Sam Newfield 1930s American films English-language comedy-drama films