''Private Jones'' is a 1933 American

pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was an era in the Cinema of the United States, American film industry that occurred between the widespread adoption of sound in film in the late 1920s and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship gui ...

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Russell Mack Russell Mack (November 11, 1892 – June 1, 1972) was an American vaudeville performer in the 1910s and a stage actor, film director, and producer in the 1920s and 1930s. Vaudeville and stage career Born Edward Russell Mahoney in Oneonta, New ...

and written by Prescott Chaplin, Bill Cohen, George Jessel, William N. Robson and Sam Spewack. The film, which stars

Lee Tracy William Lee Tracy (April 14, 1898 – October 18, 1968) was an American stage, film, and television actor. He is known foremost for his portrayals between the late 1920s and 1940s of fast-talking, wisecracking news reporters, press agents, law ...

Gloria Stuart Gloria Frances Stuart (born Gloria Stewart; July 4, 1910 – September 26, 2010) was an American actress, visual artist, and activist. She was known for her roles in pre-code films, and garnered renewed fame late in life for her portrayal of Ro ...

, Donald Cook,

Emma Dunn Emma Dunn (26 February 1875 – 14 December 1966) was an English actress. After starting her acting career on stage in London, she became known for her works in numerous films and Broadway productions. Career Emma Dunn appeared onstage in ...

Shirley Grey Shirley Grey (born Agnes Evangeline Zetterstrand; April 3, 1902 – August 12, 1981) was an American actress. She appeared in more than 40 films between 1930 and 1935. Early years Born in Naugatuck, Connecticut, Grey was the daughter of Er ...

and

Frank McHugh Francis Curry McHugh (May 23, 1898 – September 11, 1981) was an American stage, radio, film and television actor. Early years Born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, of Irish descent, McHugh came from a theatrical family. His parents, Edward A ...

, was released by

Universal Pictures Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...

on March 25, 1933.

Plot

Mr. Jones is drafted to fight in World War I, after America declares war on Germany in 1917. He is, however, wholly unwilling. He attempts to evade the draft by arguing to be the sole provider for his family, but to no avail. He "snarl at patriotism," and does not think there is any reason for him to fight the Germans. After actively fighting for his country, his opinions may have changed.

Cast

as Pvt. William 'Bill' Jones *

as Mary Gregg * Donald Cook as Lt. John Gregg *

as Mrs. Jones *

as Helen Jones *

as 'Greasy' *

Russell Gleason Russell Gleason (February 6, 1908 – December 25, 1945) was an American actor who began his career at the very beginning of the talking film era. He was born into an acting family, the son of actors Lucille Gleason, Lucille and James Gleason. He ...

as Williams *

Walter Catlett Walter Leland Catlett (February 4, 1889 – November 14, 1960) was an American actor and comedian. He made a career of playing excitable, meddlesome, temperamental, and officious blowhards. Career Catlett was born on February 4, 1889, in S ...

as Spivey *

Berton Churchill Berton Churchill (December 9, 1876 – October 10, 1940) was a Canadian stage and film actor. Early years Churchill was born in Toronto, Ontario. After his family moved to New York City, he graduated from high school there, studied law at nigh ...

as Roger Winthrop

References

External links

* 1933 films American comedy films 1933 comedy films Universal Pictures films Films directed by Russell Mack American black-and-white films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films Films with screenplays by Richard Schayer Films set in 1917 American World War I films {{1930s-comedy-film-stub