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Broadway Bill

Broadway Bill
Movie poster showing Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy embracing
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Frank Capra
Produced by Frank Capra
Screenplay by Robert Riskin
Based on "Strictly Confidential"
by Mark Hellinger
Starring
Music by Howard Jackson
Cinematography Joseph Walker
Edited by Gene Havlick
Production
company
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
  • December 27, 1934 (1934-12-27) (USA)
Running time
103 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $668,900

Broadway Bill is a 1934 American comedy drama film directed by Frank Capra and starring Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy, Walter Connolly, and Helen Vinson. Written by Robert Riskin and based on the short story "Strictly Confidential" by Mark Hellinger, the film is about a man's love for his thoroughbred race horse and the woman who helps him achieve his dreams. Capra disliked the final product, and in an effort to make it more to his liking, he remade the film in 1950 as Riding High. In later years, the distributor of Riding High, Paramount Pictures, acquired the rights to Broadway Bill. The film was released in the United Kingdom as Strictly Confidential.

Broadway Bill was filmed between June 18 and August 16, 1934 at Columbia Studios in Hollywood, and on location at Tanforan Racetrack in San Bruno, Warner Bros. Ranch, and the Pacific Coast Steel Mills. After an initial preview on October 24, Capra re-edited some scenes based upon audience reaction. The film premiered on November 30, 1934 in New York City, and was released in the United States on December 27, 1934. The film received good reviews, with Andre Sennwald in The New York Times calling it "sly and impertinent screen comedy, painlessly whimsical and completely engaging".

Dan Brooks (Warner Baxter) runs a paper box factory for his father-in-law, J. L. Higgins (Walter Connolly), who owns most of the major business interests in Higginsville. Uninspired by his factory position, Dan devotes his time and energy to training his thoroughbred race horse, Broadway Bill, in hopes of returning one day to the world of horse racing. Dan is encouraged to follow his dream by his unwed sister-in-law Alice (Myrna Loy) and stable hand Whitey (Clarence Muse). One night at a family dinner, J. L. reports that sales are down in the paper box division and blames it on Dan's neglect of his work. When he orders Dan to sell the horse and focus on his factory job, Dan resigns and leaves Higginsville without his wife Margaret (Helen Vinson), who shows little sympathy for her husband.


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