''That's Right – You're Wrong'' is a 1939 American

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serv ...

directed by David Butler and released by

RKO Radio Pictures RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, is an American film production and distribution company, historically one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Kei ...

. The film stars

Kay Kyser James Kern Kyser (June 18, 1905 – July 23, 1985), known as Kay Kyser, was an American bandleader and radio personality of the 1930s and 1940s. Early years Kyser was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, the son of pharmacists Emily Royster Kyser ...

and his band, with a cast that included

Adolphe Menjou Adolphe Jean Menjou (February 18, 1890 – October 29, 1963) was an American actor whose career spanned both silent films and talkies. He became a leading man during the 1920s, known for his debonair and sophisticated screen presence. He was no ...

Lucille Ball Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedian, producer, and studio executive. She was recognized by ''Time (magazine), Time'' in 2020 as one of the most influential women of the 20th century for h ...

Edward Everett Horton Edward Everett Horton, Jr. (March 18, 1886 – September 29, 1970) was an American character actor and comedian. He had a long career in film, theater, radio, television, and voice work for animated cartoons. Early life Horton was born March 18 ...

Roscoe Karns Roscoe Karns (September 7, 1891 – February 6, 1970) was an American actor who appeared in nearly 150 films between 1915 and 1964. He specialized in cynical, wise-cracking (and often tipsy) characters, and his rapid-fire delivery enlivened many ...

, and

Ginny Simms Virginia Ellen SimmsSleeve notes from ''Ginny Simms – I'd Like To Set You To Music'', Jasmine JASCD 118, 2001. (May 25, 1913 – April 4, 1994) was an American popular singer and film actress. Simms sang with big bands and with Dinah Shore, ...

(as herself). It was the first film to feature Kyser and his band, and its success led to their headlining several more pictures over the next five years. The title was a Kyser catchphrase, used on his radio show when a contestant correctly gave a wrong answer to a "right or wrong" question.

Plot

Four Star Studios is suffering a slump at the box office, and studio head Forbes, noting the enormous popularity of Kyser's band on radio and in concert, decides to sign them up to star in a movie. But to the band's disappointment, Kyser turns down the offer, believing he should "stay in his own backyard." Their manager, Deems, manages to change his mind, and they head off to Hollywood. Upon arrival, they're greeted by their producer, Delmore, and fast-talking press agent Stamp. Deems has rented an enormous house for them to live in, which upsets the thrifty Kyser until he finds that his beloved Grandma has been brought out to live in and run the place. At the studio, things quickly take a bad turn, as top screenwriters Village and Cook realize that Kyser's unprepossessing looks and personality don't exactly fit the mold of the dashing romantic lead most movies require. After over 40 failed attempts to come up with an acceptable story, they tell Delmore it's hopeless. Fearful of being fired, the producer figures the only way out of this situation is to get Kyser to quit. He tells the bandleader that his girl, vocalist Ginny, will be replaced by rising star Sandra Sand. It appears to do the trick until the writers, feeling sorry for putting Kyser in this spot, concoct a way for him to put a monkey wrench in Delmore's scheme.

Cast

as Kay Kyser *

as Stacey Delmore *

May Robson Mary Jeanette Robison (19 April 1858 – 20 October 1942), known professionally as May Robson, was an Australian-born America-based actress whose career spanned 58 years, starting in 1883 when she was 25. A major stage actress of the late 19th ...

as Grandma *

as Sandra Sand *

Dennis O'Keefe Dennis O'Keefe (born Edward Vance Flanagan; March 29, 1908 – August 31, 1968) was an American actor. Early years O'Keefe was born in Fort Madison, Iowa, as Edward Vance Flanagan, the son of Edward J. Flanagan and Charlotte Flanagan ( ...

as Chuck Deems, the Band Manager *

as Tom Village, a Screenwriter *

as Mal Stamp *

Moroni Olsen Moroni Olsen (June 27, 1889November 22, 1954) was an American actor. Life and career Olsen was born in Ogden, Utah, to Latter-day Saint parents Edward Arenholt Olsen and Martha ( Hoverholst) Olsen, who named him after the Moroni found in the ...

as Jonathan 'J.D.' Forbes *

Hobart Cavanaugh Hobart Cavanaugh (September 22, 1886 – April 26, 1950 ) was an American character actor in films and on stage. Biography Cavanaugh was born in Virginia City, Nevada, on September 22, 1886. He attended the University of California, then worked ...

as Dwight Cook, a Screenwriter * Kay Kyser Band as Kay Kyser's Band (as Kay Kyser's Band) *

as Ginny Simms – Band Singer *

Harry Babbitt Harry Babbitt (November 2, 1913 – April 9, 2004) was an American singer and star during the Big Band era. Early career Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Babbitt organized his own band after high school, directing the group in addition to singing and ...

as Harry Babbitt * Sully Mason as Sully Mason * Merwyn Bogue as

Ish Kabibble Ish Kabibble (January 19, 1908 – June 5, 1994) was an American comedian and cornet player. Early life Born Merwyn Bogue in North East, Pennsylvania, he moved to Erie, Pennsylvania, with his family a few months after his birth. Career Bogue s ...

Hedda Hopper Elda Furry (May 2, 1885February 1, 1966), known professionally as Hedda Hopper, was an American gossip columnist and actress. At the height of her influence in the 1940s, more than 35 million people read her columns. A strong supporter of the Hous ...

as herself *

Sheilah Graham Sheilah Graham (born Lily Shiel; 15 September 1904 – 17 November 1988) was a British-born, nationally syndicated American gossip columnist during Hollywood's "Golden Age". In her youth, she had been a showgirl and a freelance writer for Fl ...

as herself *

Erskine Johnson Erskine Johnson (December 14, 1910 - June 14, 1984) was a Hollywood gossip columnist who worked for the Hearst newspaper chain and appeared on the radio and in motion pictures. Career His column "Hollywood Notes" was syndicated by the Newspap ...

as himself * Harrison Carroll as himself *

Feg Murray Frederic Seymour Murray (May 15, 1894 – July 16, 1973), known as Fred Murray or Feg Murray, was an American athlete who competed mainly in the 110 meter hurdles. He won a bronze medal in the 1920 Summer Olympics. After his athletic ca ...

as himself *

Charles Judels Charles Judels (August 17, 1882 – February 14, 1969) was a Dutch-born American actor. Early years Judels was born on August 17, 1882, in Amsterdam as a third generation in a family of actors. His grandfather owned several theatres throughout ...

as Luigi

Music

In addition to Kay Kyser's theme song, "(I’ve Grown So Lonely) Thinking of You" (music and lyrics by

Walter Donaldson Walter Donaldson may refer to: * Walter Donaldson (snooker player), (1907–1973) Scottish snooker player * Walter Donaldson (songwriter), (1893–1947) American songwriter {{human name disambiguation, Donaldson, Walter ...

and

Paul Ash Paul Robert Ash (February 11, 1891, German Empire — July 13, 1958, Manhattan, New York (state), New York) was a German orchestra leader, composer, vaudeville personality, and recording artist, who emigrated to the United States. He recorded se ...

), the movie included the following songs: * "The Answer is Love" (music by Sam H. Stept, lyrics by

Charles Newmansung Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was ...

, sung by Ginny Simms, Harry Babbitt, and Sully Mason, with a guest appearance by Ish Kabibble) * " Chatterbox" (music by Jerome (Jerry) Brainin, lyrics by Allan Roberts) * "

California, Here I Come "California, Here I Come" is a song interpolated in the Broadway musical '' Bombo'', starring Al Jolson. The song was written by Bud DeSylva, Joseph Meyer, and Jolson. Jolson recorded the song on January 17, 1924, with Isham Jones' Orchestra ...

" (written by

Al Jolson Al Jolson (born Asa Yoelson, ; May 26, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was a Lithuanian-born American singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian. Self-billed as "The World's Greatest Entertainer," Jolson was one of the United States' most famous and ...

, Buddy G. DeSylva, and Joseph Meyer) * "The Little Red Fox" (sung by Ginny Simms) * "The Volga Boatman" * "Happy Birthday to Love" (music and lyrics by

Dave Franklin Dave Franklin (September 28, 1895 – February 2, 1970) was an accomplished American songwriter and pianist. A member of Tin Pan Alley, Franklin co-wrote " The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down", which was adopted as the theme song to the ''Looney Tune ...

, sung by Ginny Simms) * "Fit to be Tied" (music and lyrics by Walter Donaldson) * "My Mammy" (music by Walter Donaldson, lyrics by Sam Lewis and Joe Young)

Reception

The film was popular and earned a profit of $219,000.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:That's Right-You're Wrong 1939 films 1939 musical films Films directed by David Butler American black-and-white films American musical films Films scored by Roy Webb RKO Pictures films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films English-language musical films