The Big Broadcast of 1936

The Big Broadcast of 1936

Year: 1935

Runtime: 98 mins

Language: English

Director: Norman Taurog

Music

A high‑energy musical brimming with songs, comedy and romance. Small‑time radio owner Spud Miller, who also serves as the station’s sole announcer, faces bankruptcy. He eagerly embraces the zany schemes of George and Gracie, who have just built a television contraption capable of receiving and transmitting any signal, anytime, anywhere.

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Timeline & Setting – The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1936

The events unfold in the mid-1930s, during the Golden Age of radio and vaudeville-influenced entertainment. A high-stakes international broadcast competition drives the action, along with the invention of a television-like device. The period is marked by mass-audience entertainment, rapid media innovations, and the rise of celebrity-driven show business.

Location

New York City, Clementi (Caribbean island)

Primarily set around the W.H.Y. radio station in New York, the story also travels to the Caribbean island of Clementi. The New York studio represents the bustling hub of radio entertainment, while Clementi provides a remote location for the island-capable plot and the competition. The contrast underscores the era's fascination with big spectacle and exotic escapes.

🏙️ Urban 🏝️ Caribbean island

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:59

Main Characters – The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935)

Meet the key characters of The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Spud Miller (Jack Oakie)

Owner of the W.H.Y. radio station who also serves as Lochinvar in the studio. He faces potential bankruptcy and seeks big opportunities, showing both entrepreneurial drive and comedic resilience. His quick thinking helps navigate crises and keep the show afloat while chasing the high-stakes prize.

🎭 Ambitious 🧭 Resourceful 🎤 Witty

Smiley Goodwin (Henry Wadsworth)

The house singer and partner to Spud, Smiley provides musical charm and loyal support. His presence helps defuse tense situations and his performance anchors the show’s appeal, even as danger looms around the stakes of the competition.

🎶 Charismatic 🤝 Loyal 🌀 Energetic

Countess Ysobel de Naigila (Lyda Roberti)

A passionate listener and potential investor who arrives on the island with a volatile mix of romance and impulsiveness. Her actions—driven by jealousy toward Lochinvar—pull Spud and Smiley into a perilous plot and a dramatic island confrontation.

👑 Aristocratic 💘 Impulsive 🕵️‍♀️ Suspicious

Gordoni (C. Henry Gordon)

The villain who masterminds murder plots to eliminate Spud and Smiley. He embodies danger and strategic cunning, pursuing the prize through coercion and intimidation as the stakes rise on the island and at sea.

🗡️ Menacing 🧠 Cunning 🕵️‍♂️ Scheming

George Burns (George Burns)

A showbiz mentor figure who, along with Gracie, comes to the rescue as danger escalates. Their arrival by boat adds a dramatic rescue angle and showcases their signature partnership and wit.

🎭 Entertaining 🤝 Collaborator 🚢 Adventurous

Gracie Allen (Gracie Allen)

Gracie contributes impulsive, funny, and resourceful energy to the plan, including a daring move that lights the boat on fire, catalyzing the rescue and showdown on Clementi.

🎭 Comedic 💡 Resourceful 🔥 Fiery

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:59

Major Themes – The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935)

Explore the central themes of The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

📻 Broadcasting

The film centers on a radio show and the power of broadcast media to shape fame and fortune. Characters jockey for ratings, sponsorship, and prestige as the airwaves become a battleground for control and spectacle.

⚔️ Peril

There is constant danger as Gordoni plots murder and deceit to thwart Spud and Smiley. The narrative builds tension through chases, traps, and dramatic confrontations on land and at sea.

🤝 Partnership

Friendship and collaboration drive the plot forward, with Burns and Allen entering the fray to help the protagonists. The duo's teamwork contrasts with the villain's solitary schemes, underscoring the value of loyalty and wit.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:59

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Zany Golden Age Showbiz Romps like The Big Broadcast of 1936

Fast-paced comedies where show business dreams meet madcap schemes.If you loved the madcap energy of The Big Broadcast of 1936, explore more movies like it. This list features similar fast-paced, lighthearted comedies set in the world of show business, filled with zany characters, romantic hijinks, and toe-tapping musical numbers.

high-energyplayfulzanycharmingescapistromanticcomicaltriumphant

Narrative Summary

Stories typically follow scrappy underdogs in the entertainment world—producers, performers, or station owners—facing financial ruin or stiff competition. Their salvation often arrives through a crazy invention, a convoluted con, or a last-ditch effort that leads to a series of comical mishaps, romantic rivalries, and ultimately, a triumphant finale.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared LIGHT tone, FAST pacing, and focus on the whimsical side of show business. They prioritize humor, charm, and high-energy spectacle over deep drama, offering a consistent vibe of playful, escapist fun.

Movies with Madcap Inventions like in The Big Broadcast of 1936

Whimsical stories where a crazy gadget or con saves the day.Fans of the wacky television contraption in The Big Broadcast of 1936 will enjoy these movies. Discover similar stories where a bizarre invention or a clever con artist's plan leads to comical chaos, romantic entanglements, and a ultimately happy ending.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative hinges on a seemingly absurd invention or a complex con that promises to solve a major problem, usually financial. This central device becomes the source of all ensuing chaos, leading to mistaken identities, villainous interference, frantic chases, and a final public demonstration or reveal that resolves everything happily.

Why These Movies?

These films share a core plot mechanism—a madcap invention or con—that generates consistent, lighthearted conflict. They are united by a STRAIGHTFORWARD complexity, a MEDIUM intensity that comes from playful peril, and an overwhelming sense of whimsy and fun.

Unlock the Full Story of The Big Broadcast of 1936

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The Big Broadcast of 1936 Summary

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The Big Broadcast of 1936 Summary

The Big Broadcast of 1936 Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Big Broadcast of 1936 with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Big Broadcast of 1936 Timeline

The Big Broadcast of 1936 Spoiler-Free Summary

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The Big Broadcast of 1936 Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Big Broadcast of 1936

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