Nice guy inventor Fred Dennis (a solid and likable performance by Lyle Talbot) needs backing for his new television invention. He gets involved with shrewd and assertive crooked businesswoman Barbara 'Bobby' Blake (delightfully played with winning sass and spark by Mary Astor) while a bunch of gangsters plot to steal his invention. Director Del Lord, working from a compact script by Leo Loeb and Harold Buchman, relates the entertaining story at a snappy pace, offers a pleasing blend of comedy and drama, and delivers some rousing action at the very end. Moreover, it's acted with zest by an enthusiastic cast: Nat Pendleton as amiable lug Rocky O'Neil, Joyce Compton as Barbara's spunky gal pal Mae Collins, Thurston Hall as grumpy CEO John Curtis, and Marc Lawrence as ruthless mobster Frank Griffin. Allen G. Siegler's cinematography makes nice use of wipes. Plus it's a kick to see a motion picture made at a time when television was an exciting technological marvel. A fun little romp.

The story begins at a collection agency. The boss is angry at Nat Pendleton (who plays his typical likable idiot in this film) because he's been a total failure at the job--particularly since Pendleton is too nice a guy for this sort of work. However, he gives him one more chance--he's to either get the money or parts bought by a young inventor (Lyle Talbot). But, when Pendleton sees the cool television that Talbot is working on, he becomes excited about it and offers to buy Talbot dinner AND help him get a job so he can afford to work on his experimental TV! I had a laugh when moments later, Pendleton introduced Talbot to the boss--and got him a job as a collection agent as well! How did he convince the boss? He told him that Talbot had job gotten out of jail for roughing up people on his previous job as a collection agent! At that point, Talbot begins threatening the boss--and is hired! Soon, Talbot is sent out to collect from a client (Mary Astor). She is broke but Talbot, like Pendleton, is a softy and cannot bring himself to repossess the property. Instead, they strike up a friendship and she promises she'll help him find financing for his television, though considering she's broke this seems like a hollow gesture. But Astor has the "gift of blarney" and is somehow able to get the $200 Talbot needs. Things certainly are looking up for his invention. However, some crooks decide to sabotage the machine so that they can capitalize on television--leaving Talbot and his friends flat broke. What happens next is something you'll have to see for yourself.I guess I have a soft spot for this movie. Since it's one of the earliest movies to discuss the new medium of TV, it's actually a very important historical piece. Plus, at the time, audiences must have been pretty excited to see this new gizmo. The acting is pretty good, there are a few nice laughs and it's a pleasant little B-movie. Not great but certainly pretty good and worth seeing--especially if you like films from the classic era in Hollywood.

This film tries to blend comedy with drama, and the result is an uneasy tossed salad rather than a smooth pudding. Lyle Talbot is so stalwart and large it is difficult to feature him as a TV inventor -- but he more than makes up for this in the fight scene, where, with his usual technique, he just beats the dickens out of the other actors for five or ten minutes. Nat Pendelton is wonderful as the dim-witted bill collector turned science hobbyist. Mary Astor, playing closer to her "Thin Man" arch smile than to her "Maltese Falcon" dramatic style, is a scheming but lovable promoter of potato peelers who decides to back this newfangled thing called television. All in all, this makes a better comedy than a drama, but the direction pulls it both ways, and thus it fails to satisfy either audience altogether. Kudos to the prop department for building the most amazingly art deco television camera and receiver in the history of film -- complete with a flat screen monitor! Great stuff, that! Anyway, it's a fun film, won't put you to sleep, and might give you a few laughs until Lyle Talbot swings into action and starts the fight scene that you knew was headed your way the minute you saw his name in the credits and his broad shoulders in that unconvincing scientist's get-up.

The inventor of an improved form of TV battles crooks and crooked broadcasters to remain alive and remain in control of his invention.That sounds much more exciting than it is. This is a well made, well acted story that has a weird mix of humor and thrills. You have the crooks trying to steal the invention which is very good, and then you have things like the character of the dopey bill collector who seems to come from a very good broad comedy. The problem is that the two styles don't really blend and you end up with a movie thats neither, as well as being just sort of okay. Its a bland affair that never really held my attention.Worth trying if you run across it, but probably not worth running out to get.