Love on a Bet (1936)

In order to raise money to produce a play (as well as prove that the plot isn't ridiculous), Michael McCreigh makes a bet with his Uncle Carlton that he can begin in Central Park in his underwear and, without paying or borrowing for transportation, get to California in 10 days with a decent suit, $100…and a fiance. If he wins, he gets $15,000 to produce the play; if he loses, he must accept a job in his uncle's packing plant.

Director: Leigh Jason
Cast: Gene Raymond, Wendy Barrie, Helen Broderick, William Collier Sr., Spencer Charters, Walter Johnson, Addison Randall, Eddie Gribbon, Morgan Wallace, Eddie Borden, Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams, Irving Bacon, Lynton Brent, Ray Cooke, Edith Craig, Hal Craig, William B. Davidson, Lester Dorr, Bud Geary, Billy Gilbert, William Gould, J. Anthony Hughes, Lloyd Ingraham, Maxine Jennings, Eddie Kane, Jerry Larkin, Marc Lawrence, Wilfred Lucas, Mary MacLaren, Frank Marlowe

Gene Raymond sticks out a thumb and pulls in a plum in this “diverting and fresh” (The New York Times) screwball comedy costarring Wendy Barrie and Helen Broderick. When no one will finance his play, would-be producer Michael MacCreigh (Raymond) bets his rich uncle he can leave New York without money or clothes and arrive in Los Angeles 10 days later with a good suit, a hundred bucks in his pocket and a beautiful fiancee to boot. If Michael wins, his uncle will produce the play; if he loses, he’ll give up the stage and work in the family meatpacking business. Clad in only his skivvies, Michael soon hitches a ride with a gold-digging redhead (Barrie) and her wisecracking aunt (Broderick) as he races across the country to win cash, clothes and Love on a Bet.

Love on a Bet, one of RKO's offerings for American theaters in 1936, was a definitive product of its era. Produced and released during the height of the Great Depression, this romantic comedy helped its audience face the challenge of being poor, and to take delight in the simple pleasures of life. The plot involves Gene Raymond betting his rich uncle that he can start in New York with nothing but his underwear and wind up in Los Angeles, ten days later, wearing a new suit of clothes, $100 in his pocket, and engaged to a pretty girl.

In particular, Love on a Bet addressed the problem of homelessness, and the plight of millions of Americans who found themselves without a job, a bank account, or a home. For many, the street substituted as both a bed and a home. Love on a Bet took this basic premise and weaved an escapist fantasy around it. My Man Godfrey (1936), Meet John Doe (1941) and Sullivan's Travels (1942) are a few of the more famous titles that have also dealt humorously, but respectably, with the "forgotten men" who populated American streets.

The star in Love on a Bet was blonde, blue-eyed, early-talkie leading man Gene Raymond, who had been on the New York stage from near-infancy, making his Broadway bow at age 12. Though never a major star, Raymond developed a following in a variety of good film roles. His best screen assignments include important roles in If I Had a Million (1932), Zoo in Budapest (1933), Flying Down to Rio (1933) and Alfred Hitchcock's only screwball comedy, Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941). In 1948, Raymond scored a quadruple feat by producing, directing, co-writing and starring in Million Dollar Weekend. In real life, Raymond was married to singing star Jeanette MacDonald from 1937 until her death in 1965. Despite the many film credits between them, they only acted together in one film, Smilin' Through in 1941.
~ Scott McGee

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