Going Highbrow

From Warner Brothers B picture unit Going Highbrow finds the newly rich Guy Kibbee and Zasu Pitts trying to break into that beautiful high society Louis Armstrong sang about. In fact they've just bought a Tintoretto and then a castle for it to hang in.

For reasons historians of the 30s can't really explain people went to the movies to see rich people portrayed on the screen. In this case Kibbee is a down to earth sort and Pitts is nice, but with a few airs. I do love the way Kibbee describes how he made his money. He accidentally sold short before the Crash of 1929 something many in the movie theater audience wish they had.

Edward Everett Horton is manager of society denizen Nella Walker's fortune and he hasn't been doing so good lately for her or her son Ross Alexander. But he resolves to make the acquaintance of Kibbee and Pitts because if they like paintings she has plenty.

She also has a bachelor son and if Guy and Zasu only could get a daughter on short notice. That could be solved with the appearance of June Martel a waitress from the cafe across the street.

I think you can tell where this will end up. All the players fill out roles in which they are nicely typecast. You could also add Judy Canova playing Martel's fellow hashslinger.

Two tragedies emerged from this film. Gordon Westcott who is Martel's 'husband' and former vaudeville partner died in a polo match accident. And Ross Alexander's career was cut short by suicide.

Going Highbrow is pleasant viewing for an hour plus especially if you are a fan of one or more of these players.