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  • Amateur Daddy (1932)
  • Passed
    71 min | Drama, Romance
Amateur Daddy (1932)
Passed
71 min | Drama, Romance

Jim Gladden, a construction site foreman, is partially responsible for the accidental death of one of his workers, Fred Smith, and makes good on Fred's deathbed request to go to Scotch Valley and take care of his surviving wife and ...See moreJim Gladden, a construction site foreman, is partially responsible for the accidental death of one of his workers, Fred Smith, and makes good on Fred's deathbed request to go to Scotch Valley and take care of his surviving wife and children. When Jim arrives in the small town, he is told that there are two Fred Smith families in Scotch Valley, the rich Smiths and the poor Smiths. Jim assumes that the Smiths he is looking for are the poor ones, and is directed to a house where four children live in poverty. In the absence of her recently deceased mother and deserting father, Sally, the oldest child, has taken over the responsibilities of rearing the other three children. Initially, Sally mistrusts Jim's intrusion, but later realizes his good intentions and accepts his help. Wanting to find food for the children, Jim asks about their neighbors, and Pete, the oldest boy, informs Jim that one neighbor, Sam Pelgram, once beat him and later cut off their water supply. Jim, unable to believe that any man could be so cruel, goes to see Pelgram for himself and discovers that Pete's description is accurate. After failing to reason with mean-spirited Pelgram, Jim tries to reason with his wife, but soon realizes that she is only interested in seducing him. Jim seeks the legal help of William J. Hansen to begin adoption procedures and, in town, meets Olive Smith, an attractive young woman to whom he is instantly attracted. Sally soon becomes jealous of Jim and Olive's relationship and competes with Olive for his attention. Meanwhile, Pelgram organizes a group of local men to run Jim out of town by abducting and whipping him. Jim survives the ordeal and later discovers that Pelgram wants the Smith ranch because he has found oil on it. At the guardianship hearings, Mrs. Pelgram testifies against Jim's character by fabricating a story about how he made sexual advances toward her. The judge, however, is convinced of Jim's suitability as a parent and grants him custody of the children. Returning to the Smith ranch, Jim and the children are shocked to see their father, who has just been released from San Quentin. Smith announces that, just moments before, he sold the ranch to Pelgram. When Smith learns about the oil on the land, he welches on his deal with Pelgram, and Pelgram kills him. Pelgram is then arrested and led away to prison. Despite his realization that he has been living with the wrong Smith family all along, Jim decides to remain with his newly adopted family. See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Writers
Mildred Cram (novel "Scotch Valley") | Frank Dolan (screenplay) | Doris Malloy (screenplay) | William M. Conselman (dialogue) (as William Conselman)
Producer
Cinematographer
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Apr 10, 1932

Release date
Apr 10, 1932 (United States)

Contacts

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Cast

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16 cast members
Name Known for
Warner Baxter
Jim Gladden Jim Gladden   See fewer
Marian Nixon
Sally Smith Sally Smith   See fewer
Rita La Roy
Lotti Pelgram Lotti Pelgram   See fewer
William Pawley
2nd Fred Smith 2nd Fred Smith   See fewer
Lucille Powers
Olive Smith Olive Smith   See fewer
David Landau
Sam Pelgram Sam Pelgram   See fewer
Clarence Wilson
William J. 'Bill' Hansen William J. 'Bill' Hansen   See fewer
Frankie Darro
Pete Smith Pete Smith   See fewer
Gail Kornfeld
Lily Smith Lily Smith   See fewer
Joe Hachey
Sam Pelgram, Jr. Sam Pelgram, Jr.   See fewer
Edwin Stanley
1st Fred Smith 1st Fred Smith   See fewer
Joan Breslau
Nancy Smith (as Joan Breslaw) Nancy Smith (as Joan Breslaw)   See fewer
Nora Cecil
Saleslady (uncredited) Saleslady (uncredited)   See fewer
Harry Dunkinson
Fat Hicks (uncredited) Fat Hicks (uncredited)   See fewer
Rodney Hildebrand
Deputy Sheriff (uncredited) Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)   See fewer
Ben Taggart
Deputy Sheriff (uncredited) Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)   See fewer
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