Once in a Lifetime (1932)

Awards
- 1 win total

Top cast31

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Jack Oakie

George Lewis

Sidney Fox

Susan Walker

Aline MacMahon

May Daniels

Russell Hopton

Jerome 'Jerry' Hyland

Louise Fazenda

Helen Hobart

Zasu Pitts

Miss Leighton

Gregory Ratoff

Herman Glogauer

Jobyna Howland

Mrs. Walker

Onslow Stevens

Lawrence Vail

Gregory Gaye

Rudolph Kammerling

Eddie Kane

Meterstein

Johnnie Morris

Weiskopf
(as Johnny Morris)

Frank LaRue

The Bishop

Margaret Lindsay

Dr. Lewis' Secretary

Walter Brennan

Lighting Technician
(uncredited)

Ralph Brooks

Studio Actor
(uncredited)

Edith Fellows

Flower Girl in Movie Wedding Scene
(uncredited)

Leyland Hodgson

Reporter
(uncredited)

Director
- Russell Mack
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Normally I don't write 'mildly amusing', but this time I did because one reviewer felt it was the funniest film ever. I would beg to differ, though we all have our opinions and I am glad they loved it that much. As for me, it had a few amusing moments.

The story begins with a group of three Vaudevillians are talking about the new sensation, talking pictures. The brains of the group (Aline MacMahon) suggests they capitalize on this by heading to Hollywood and pretending to be voice coaches. Soon, they get hired by a crackpot studio head and although George (Jack Oakie) is by far the dumbest of the group, he manages to have hit after hit!

Overall, this is a mildly funny comedy about the early days of talking pictures. The latter portion with Oakie is the best and occasionally portions of it fall a bit flat...and the third in the trio is about as charismatic as a shoe lace. But, overall well worth seeing...particularly if you love old films.

Photos5

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Did you know

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Trivia
Aline MacMahon created the role of May Daniels in the first tryout of the play. (Source: Moss Hart's autobiography 'Act One'.)

Quotes
Herman Gloguaer: What did they have to go and make pictures talk for? Things were going along fine. You couldn't stop making money - even if you turned out a good picture you made money.

Crazy credits
The opening credits are followed by a written message from producer Carl Laemmle saying critics had questioned whether he would use the material that "so mercilessly and so hilariously poked fun at Hollywood and its motion picture people." But, he says, laughter is needed "in times like these."