Traveling Saleslady

Last updated
Traveling Saleslady
Traveling Saleslady poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Ray Enright
Screenplay by F. Hugh Herbert
Manuel Seff
Benny Rubin
Story by Frank Howard Clark
Produced by Samuel Bischoff
Starring Joan Blondell
Glenda Farrell
Cinematography George Barnes
Edited by Owen Marks
Music by Bernhard Kaun
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date
  • March 28, 1935 (1935-03-28)
Running time
63 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Traveling Saleslady is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Ray Enright and starring Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell. It was released by Warner Bros. on March 28, 1935. [1] [2] It is one of five films by Warner Bros. where Farrell and Blondell were paired as two blonde bombshells. The other films include: Havana Widows (1933), Kansas City Princess (1934), We're in the Money (1935) and Miss Pacific Fleet (1935). Actress Joan Blondell was married to the film's cinematographer George Barnes at the time of filming.

Contents

Plot

Angela Twitchell (Joan Blondell), the daughter of Rufus Twitchell (Grant Mitchell), the founder of Twitchell's Toothpaste, wants to work for her father's New York company. But her father is convinced that women have no place in the business. Rufus is losing sales to rival company own by Schmidts (Al Shean). but he is too stubborn to listen to any new ideas or mount a new advertising campaign. Angela tries to help her father by bringing him an idea for a cocktail flavored toothpaste. When he refuses to listen, she takes the idea to Schmidt, using an alias. Schmidt loves the idea and hires her to sell the product. Angela's first customer, Claudette (Glenda Farrell), the head of a chain of pharmacies, is committed to Twitchell's company, because she is in love with the company's salesman Pat O'Connor (William Gargan).

On the road, Angela plans to outsell Pat. When she suspects that Pat is taking an early train in order to make a sale on board the train, she boards the train herself and beats him to the customer. Pat and Angela fall in love, but Pat does not know Angela's true identity. Back in New York, Pat and Rufus plan their strategy for the upcoming Chicago pharmacy convention, but once again, Angela uses every tactic to steal sales away from Twitchell's company. Pat accuses her of unethical behavior and refuses to see her again. Rufus and Schmidt discuss a merger, but negotiations are stalled until Angela shows up. Rufus is outraged that his own daughter has been working for his competitor. Then she reminds them that she only gave the rights to Cocktail Toothpaste to Schmidt for a year; she will only turn them over to a merged company. Later, Angela makes up with Pat.

Cast

Reception

Andre Sennwald of The New York Times writes in his film review: "Traveling Saleslady is a lively and moderately diverting little comedy out of the stream of "Convention City" to which it is, however, inferior. Miss Blondell and Mr. Herbert have played their respective roles so often in the past that they probably don't need to read their scripts more than once. The photoplay presents most of the familiar faces in the Warner repertory group. The inventory includes Grant Mitchell as the conservative toothpaste magnate, Ruth Donnelly as his wife, Al Shean as his enterprising rival, Glenda Farrell as a fresh dame, and Bert Roach as a half-wit salesman who seems to be three sheets in the wind even when he hasn't been within miles of the Cocktail Toothpaste samples. They are all diverting enough in a rather familiar way." [3]

Home media

Warner Archive released a double feature DVD collection of Traveling Saleslady (1935) and Miss Pacific Fleet (1935) on April 5, 2012.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joan Blondell</span> American actress (1906–1979)

Rose Joan Blondell was an American actress who performed in film and television for 50 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenda Farrell</span> American actress (1904-1971)

Glenda Farrell was an American actress. Farrell personified the smart and sassy, wisecracking blonde of the Classic Hollywood films. Farrell's career spanned more than 50 years, appearing in numerous Broadway plays, films and television series. She won an Emmy Award in 1963 for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her performance as Martha Morrison in the medical drama television series Ben Casey.

<i>Gold Diggers of 1935</i> 1935 American film

Gold Diggers of 1935 is an American musical film directed and choreographed by Busby Berkeley, his first time as a film's overall director. It stars Dick Powell, Adolphe Menjou, Gloria Stuart, Alice Brady, Hugh Herbert, Glenda Farrell, and Frank McHugh, and features Joseph Cawthorn, Grant Mitchell, Dorothy Dare, and Winifred Shaw. The songs were written by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics). The film is best known for its famous "Lullaby of Broadway" production number. That song, sung by Shaw, also won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The screenplay was by Manuel Seff and Peter Milne, based on a story by Robert Lord, who also produced the film, and Milne.

<i>The Personality Kid</i> 1934 film by Alan Crosland

The Personality Kid is a 1934 American drama film directed by Alan Crosland, starring Pat O'Brien and Glenda Farrell. The film was based on a story by Gene Towne and C. Graham Baker. It was released by Warner Bros. on July 7, 1934. A young prizefighter's success corrupts him and leads him to neglect his wife.

<i>Black Fury</i> (film) 1935 film by Michael Curtiz

Black Fury is a 1935 American crime film directed by Michael Curtiz, and starring Paul Muni, Karen Morley, and William Gargan. It was adapted by Abem Finkel and Carl Erickson from the short story "Jan Volkanik" by Judge Michael A. Musmanno, and the play Bohunk by Harry R. Irving. The plot is based on a historic incident during a Pennsylvania walk-out in 1929, in which John Barkowski, a striking coal miner, was beaten to death by private company police.

<i>In Caliente</i> 1935 film by Lloyd Bacon

In Caliente is a 1935 American romantic musical comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon, starring Dolores del Río and Pat O'Brien. The film was written by Ralph Block and Warren Duff. The musical numbers were choreographed by Busby Berkeley. It was released by Warner Bros. on May 25, 1935.

<i>Gold Diggers of 1937</i> 1936 film by Busby Berkeley, Lloyd Bacon

Gold Diggers of 1937 is a Warner Bros. movie musical directed by Lloyd Bacon with musical numbers created and directed by Busby Berkeley. The film stars Dick Powell and Joan Blondell, who were married at the time, with Glenda Farrell and Victor Moore.

<i>Havana Widows</i> 1933 film

Havana Widows is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Ray Enright, starring Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell. It was released by Warner Bros. on November 18, 1933. Two chorus girls travel to Havana in search of rich husbands. Their target is Deacon Jones, a self-appointed moralist who cannot drink without getting drunk.

<i>Ive Got Your Number</i> (film) 1934 film by Ray Enright

I've Got Your Number is a 1934 American Pre-Code romantic comedy film directed by Ray Enright and starring Joan Blondell, Pat O'Brien, Allen Jenkins and Glenda Farrell. The film was released by Warner Bros. on February 24, 1934. Two telephone repairmen romance a pair of blondes with many adventures. The supporting cast features Eugene Pallette.

Ray Enright was an American film director. He directed 73 films between 1927–53, many of them for Warner Bros. He oversaw comedy films like Joe E. Brown vehicles, five of the six informal pairings of Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell, and later directed a number of Westerns, many featuring Randolph Scott. Enright was born in Anderson, Indiana. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in France during the First World War. Enright died in Hollywood, California, from a heart attack.

<i>Go into Your Dance</i> 1935 film by Archie Mayo

Go into Your Dance is a 1935 American musical drama film starring Al Jolson, Ruby Keeler, and Glenda Farrell. The film was directed by Archie Mayo and is based on the novel of the same name by Bradford Ropes. It was released by Warner Bros. on April 20, 1935. An irresponsible Broadway star gets mixed up with gambling and gangsters.

<i>Little Big Shot</i> (1935 film) 1935 film by Michael Curtiz

Little Big Shot is a 1935 American film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Sybil Jason and Glenda Farrell. The film was released by Warner Bros. on September 7, 1935. The plot concerns a young girl who endears herself to her caretakers after her father is murdered by mobsters.

<i>The Perfect Specimen</i> 1937 film by Michael Curtiz

The Perfect Specimen is a 1937 American romantic comedy film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Errol Flynn and Joan Blondell. The picture is based on a novel by Samuel Hopkins Adams.

<i>Were in the Money</i> (film) 1935 film by Ray Enright

We're in the Money is a 1935 American romantic comedy film directed by Ray Enright. It was released by Warner Bros. on August 17, 1935. The film stars Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell and is one of five Warner Bros. films in which they were paired as blonde bombshell comedy duo. The other films include Havana Widows (1933), Kansas City Princess (1934), Traveling Saleslady (1935) and Miss Pacific Fleet (1935). Ginger and Dixie are two process servers, who serve legal papers to a playboy, a racketeer, a wrestler and a singer.

Broadway Gondolier (1935) is a musical film directed by Lloyd Bacon. The film was released by Warner Bros., and featured Dick Powell, Joan Blondell and Adolphe Menjou.

<i>Miss Pacific Fleet</i> 1935 film by Ray Enright

Miss Pacific Fleet is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Ray Enright. The film stars Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell, and Hugh Herbert. The film was based on the short story of the same name by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan in the Collier's magazine. It was released by Warner Bros. on December 14, 1935. Two stranded showgirls in California enter a beauty contest "Miss Pacific Fleet" to win the fare back home to New York City.

<i>Back in Circulation</i> 1937 film by Ray Enright

Back in Circulation is a 1937 American comedy drama film directed by Ray Enright and starring Pat O'Brien and Joan Blondell. Based on the short story "Angle Shooter" by Adela Rogers St. Johns, Blondell plays a fast-moving newspaper reporter who senses a story when she spots a young recent widow partying in a night club. This film is preserved in the Library of Congress collection.

<i>Kansas City Princess</i> 1934 film by William Keighley

Kansas City Princess is a 1934 American comedy film starring Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell. The film was directed by William Keighley with a script written by Sy Bartlett and Manuel Seff.

<i>Sweet Music</i> 1935 film by Alfred E. Green

Sweet Music is a 1935 American musical film directed by Alfred E. Green, written by Jerry Wald, Carl Erickson and Warren Duff, and starring Rudy Vallée, Ann Dvorak, Ned Sparks, Helen Morgan, Robert Armstrong and Allen Jenkins. It was released by Warner Bros. on February 23, 1935.

<i>Stage Struck</i> (1936 film) 1936 film by Busby Berkeley

Stage Struck is 1936 American musical comedy film directed by Busby Berkeley and starring Dick Powell, Joan Blondell and Warren William. It was produced and distributed by Warner Brothers. The film's sets were designed by the art director Robert M. Haas.

References

  1. ↑ "Traveling Saleslady (1935)". All Movie. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  2. ↑ "Traveling Saleslady (1935)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  3. ↑ Sennwald, Andre (1935-03-29). "Movie Review - The Traveling Saleslady - THE SCREN; Joan Blondell and a New Idea in Toothpaste, in "Traveling Salesladies," at the Strand". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.