Is today's suffering of fate worse than death. He is in Hollywood to make
a movie, even though he has already sunk to such depths as radio.
He is Uncle good Heart, hero of an afternoon program. The magnificent Montague
feels that by merely being in Hollywood he has deserted the theater and sold his
soul to the devil. Not even the fact that the picture he is going
to make is Shakespeare's Macbeth can soothe his guilty and tortured mind. It is
morning in the little bungalow the Montagu's have rented in Beverly Hills. Lily,
his wife and one time leading lady, and Agnes the Maid are up preparing
for the great man's first day at the studio. Peggoty Easy, Peggotty Easy,
the Hollywood residents of Edwin Montague and Lily Bowam of East sixty first Street,
New York. Agnes the Maid on this in what do you want o?
Empire Studios? Now? Montague ain't up yet. Huh? You want
me to wake him up at seven in the morning? Are you a kidding?
I'm too young to die? Does he like California? He's nuts about
it. He hides under the bed old until the sun goes down. Then
he gets up, screams, and goes back under the bed. Mm okay,
who is that, Agnes. The studio they say, your husband's still
for his makeup and test. At eight o'clock. They're sending a car for
him. Oh, I hope he gets there this time. He's been stoleing
them off for all week. Oh, Edwin is so miserable. He certainly
is now, Agnes. They talked to me to doing the picture, and
he feels he's committing treason to the New York Stay that Ham, Agnes,
Remember he's my husband. Okay, mister Ham, please, we must help
him through this mental crisis. Edwin's never forgiven the movies. He thinks.
When they came in it was goodbye theater, and here he is making a
movie. Goodbye movies. Edwin will be wonderful in the movies. Why do
you think the picture companies were so anxious to sign him because they're Baxter to
the wall that they go out in mouth of his the only voice left in
the country that can be heard in the movie theaters above the crackling of the
popcorn. Oh no, Agnes, think what can we do to make Edwin
happy here in Hollywood? I know, let's sneak out tonight and burn the
city to the ground. Agnes, DearS, if I tell you something,
will you promise on your honor never to breathe the word but to Edwin.
If he finds out, he'll be furious. What is it, Honey?
I like Hollywood, so do I. That's sunshine every afternoon. I plunk
the carcass down on the patio and let it splash all over me. I
tell you, if you close your eyes, it's kind to believe you're not
at Coney Island. And imagine having a little garden. Everything grows so first
out of here. I mean, that's what's bothering mindagu He's afraid his beard
will start bearing fruit. Stop being skidding and Shelley night. I want to
put a smudge pot under it now, please, Agnes, don't mention his
beard. Has he had enough trouble out here with everybody mistaking him for Gabby
Hayes, Poor Gabby, Poor Gabby. I wonder when Edward Edwards up every
morning the same thing, He opens his eyes and then he realizes he's in
How I would you better get him his breakfast. The studio car will be
here for him. Hurry. He's doing his morning vocal exercises already, the
voice of the turtle. Good morning, good morning, good, good morning.
Gabby. Down down, be good. I'll go out in the backyard
ing up all those bones you buryed Edwin. Isn't it a lovely morning?
The sun is shining, the birds are singing. My nerve and my nerves
are screaming, Edward. Look out of the window. It's midwinter, and
the flowers are in bloom. A warm breeze is blowing. The trees are
waving. Aye. Yes, all it just seems to have blended into one
glorious symphony. And he's whispering to me, Hey, stupid, what are
you doing out here? Get back to New York Boy in the Golden West,
Agnes, Why don't you go down to the railroad station and meet a
train head on? Edwin? Be fair about California. See how beautiful Hollywood
looks, nestling at the foot of those purple mountains. All for a camera,
oh for an avalanche, Edwin? Be reasonable, not try and enjoy
yourself, Lily. I'm I had been for the first time since I came
to this land as a nutburger. I'm happy you are as I reached the
decision, Lily, I'm not going to make that movie. We're going back
to New York, Edwin, we can't go back yet. I'm only ten
on one side, my dear, I will consider it a personal pleasure to
be allowed. Can your other's side when you're not serious, Lily, I
can't do it. I can't be a part of this, saiduloid siren that
has lured the public away from the theater of Shakespeare. Abbott and Costello have
taken the place of Romeo and Juliet when they're counting on nov the voice of
aboudy you that hascd in so many theaters, the golden lines of Shakespeare.
To be or not to be? That is the question. Will never be
able to say he went that away? But edwhen they're doing Shakespeare's Macbeth Win
Montague and Macbeth with free dishes, No, Edwin from man whose uncle Goodhart
on the radio five times a week. At least nobody knows it's me.
But the studio is giving you a new name. I know, Raoul randol
Oh. No, I won't make that picture. I want to get back
to New York with clean hands. I want once again to stand shoulder and
shoulder with my fellow actress of the theater who haven't visited the stage for Hollywood
Gold. I want to join their ranks again. And the Unemployment Insurance office
all right, like this, back into your bottle of alcohol. Ed When
you have to make that picture, you signed a contract. Never let them
assume me. Let them take all my wildly possessions. Some possessions, a
bust of Shakespeare and a pair of ton tights, Magnus. I've always meant
to ask you, who do you go to to have your head shrunk?
Oh? No, Edwin, sensible. They're going to make you a big
star, Edwin, Montague and Hollywood. This is the end of bella logosi.
Please keep your mouth closed. And they have enough canyons out here.
When you sign a contract and you're going through with it, Montague, Montague,
what are they doing to you? They're like vultures descending on a dead
horse. A dead horse that reminds me breakfast is ready. It's game time.
Here's where I play Hide and go seek with Tomaine Edwin. The studio
is sending a limousine, and don't forget you have your uncle good heart broadcast
this afternoon, the movies and radio all in one day. Oh, the
rogue and peasants slay on. I take the mirrors of the house today.
I can't look at myself, lucky you, Agnes, my dove. Why
don't you you go out, find yourself a nice young man and work out
a suicide pack? Edwin, get ready, I can't face it alone.
I want you to come with me. Oh, I can, ed when
I want to do some gardening. Her husband's poor body is being broken on
the rack and she is planting petunias. They wears your hunt. Oh please
when rather not thea. I understand you, who have remained true to this
theater. You have refused Hollywood offer so many times in our long career.
You can't bear to see my vile degradation, your once proud husband, a
movie actor, Edwin? Do they please come with me? All right,
Edwin? I will take my autograph book you Mike Ben into Luise for Zender.
Oh there's a cop from the studio. The tumbrel is hears take me
to the guillotine. Come, Edwin? By this so long, honey,
goodbye, goodbye, Raoul. Well, well, well, Raoul Randolph,
you're here, welcome to Empire Pictures. Thank you. I'm speedcockman of publicity.
This is my wife. I'm god to know you, missus Randolph.
Well, I'm not mister Styles, mister big himself. He wants me to
bring you right in to see him. This way you go in. I'll
wait here, Edward, right this way, we'll barge ride in. Well
Styles, ha, hi he how do you do? Row? Baby?
You got here? Row? Mister? My name is Edward Montague. It
is a name that he still remembered and revered by thousands of theater goers.
I would appreciate it. Sure, anything you say, Raoul. Remember I'm
behind you. You're my baby. We're going all out on you. You're
gonna be a big star. You've got Empire behind you, baby. Sound
good to you, sweetheart. Mister Tetton. From your conversation, I don't
though whether you're planning to make a picture with me or take me to Diagona
of Paul. How did you get that speed Hiagara of Paul? Hold it
in the head of Happer. Now look, Raoul, baby, I want
you and Steve to get together out of the publicity build up. Hever have
you named in the papers? For the last twenty five years, my name
has been a byword in the drama sections of the New York Press. Oh
local staff, Speed here is going to make the name of Raoul rand Now
a household word. We'll make him forget does take over? Speed? Well,
we got to get an angle, see an angle. Of course you
are a little older, and we talked, I have aged considerable. It's
entering this room. I got it. I got it. Raoul Randol older
than Pienza, but he's still got that springtime in his heart. Great,
great, great, that's it. Put that on the teletype Russia right over
to Loela. Luela, who? Luela? Who? Look? Baby,
don't even say that in the joke around? Oh what I said? Are
you married? Raoul? That was my wife I introduced you to. She
happens to be the famous lily boy of the New York State. You married?
Uh where we'll hush it up, hush it up, sure, baby,
We got to make the housewives feed your available. Look, sweetheart,
is this emotion picture studio? Are Lonely Hearts Club? Lonely Hearts Club?
Speed punched that up a little and shoot at the wind show. You might
blow it up in a whole column. Things I never know until now about
Raoul. Right now, we gotta get a romantic angle. I got it,
I got it. We'll cook up a hot romance between you and marjor
remain, me and marj Remain. I'm dying to see the stove that's going
to be cooked up on How we gotta get moving on some pictures. See
did you did you bring your baby suits with you? My bathing suit?
Yeah? Yeah, I'll take you out on the back lap for some stills
for the fan magazines. You know, human trust stuff, chasing some bathing
beauties around the pool, maybe one of them trick pictures. Your head on
a girl's body shows you're human, not one of them stuffy, hybrow actors.
We want to get you down to the public level. Down. I'm
practically dragging my dear speed. If any picture of Beederbore bathing suit or my
head on a girl's body appears to daily paper, I show you the next
edition of that paper will feature a picture of your head on a spike over
the main gate of Empire Studios. And it won't be strict photography. No
no, wait a minute, sweetheart. You listen to me, baby,
I came out here to appear in Shakespeare's Ebottle Macbeth. I only consider to
do it in order to protect Macbeth from being played by red Skins. Hilton.
I think you will have all the dignity of you here at the zero
Rah, Well, Raoul, what do you think we are barbarians? This
is a prestige picture for us. Why I've had writers on that script for
six months, punching up the lines, polishing the dialogue, polishing Shakespeare's dialog,
punching up the line. Oh, Shakespeare in your immortal grave. I
can hear you spinning now, Raoul, you're unhappy, sweetheart. Look you're
the boss. Just tell us what you want. You're my baby, now
are you happy? Yes, daddy, this is the adull. Welcome on.
Let's get going with the test. Yeah, we gotta get you in
front of a camera. See what kind of makeup to you? Is how
you look? We got to find out. You know, from certain angles
you can look twenty years younger, making sure who knows that a little luck
we might have another George Raft and I George raph by bo Boyhood idol come
on, come on, let's get going. This test is gonna be great.
You'll be wonderful. And of course I have a little unfamiliar with the
technique. Oh you'll be in great hands. We have mister Mayllard Pitch,
best dramatic teacher in Hollywood, grammatic teacher. Yeah, this way Maylard's waiting
on the sound stage. Through here a dramatic teacher. Mister Fenton, I'm
I'm Sarry a baby. I hope you acquitted the fact that I've spent twenty
five years in the country's leading Shakespeare director. Just leave everything to Maylar through
this start, Okay, mister Pitch, he can go ahead. He's here.
Hell, I'm mister fan. And this is Ray Rando. The name
is rom Okay, sweetheart hit rolling out of that screen test, and I
want to see this by this afternoon. Yeah. Well, now, any
acting experience, mister Rando a little. I understand the lead in your high
school play pta minstrel goes that sort of thing. Well, I'll be frank
with you, mister Randolph. This thing they're putting you in the back bear
magbet of God. Yes, indeed, that's right. It's by Shakespeare.
Very difficult, and I won't be able to do a thing for you unless
I have your absolute attention and you, mister Fitch, please don't interrupt.
We have so much spade work to do, mister Fitch. I'm sorry.
I don't want to lead you on, but obviously they haven't told you.
I am Edwin Montague who Edwin or, as certain critics insisted on labeling me,
the Magnificent Montague. Yes, well that's all very interesting, mister Randolph,
but we have much too much to get done before I can possibly release
you as an actor. You will release me as an actor, mister Fitch.
You are a follower of the drama. The name of Edwin Montague means
nothing to you, absolutely nothing. But of course I'm not judge, mister
Randolph. I haven't been in touch with the little theater movement in years,
more interested in professional actress. Now, well, shall we get on with
it? Let me hear your voice. I want to see if there's anything
to start with. Now, say how now, brown Cow? You see
I want resonance, but I'll explain to you what residents mean later. Just
now, how now, brown Cow? And don't be nervous. I won't
bite you shall we how no brow cow again you are a stupid a jazz
mister Randolph. As long as you continue these schoolboy pranks, I cannot help
you on the rocky road to being an actor. You as low and disimble,
as special of humanity as I never seen outside of a snake pit.
You are going to make me an actor, mister Randolph. It is not
my practice to impress students with my theatrical background. I find many times that
it over osdom. But in your case, may I acquaint you with the
fact that, prior to coming to the studio I had spent three solid years
with a Pasadena community playhouse rarely, and before that I was senior to matter
coach at Hollywood High. Oh, Master, I will never doubt you again,
I should think not. Now we have to make the test. I
have selected the scene from Macbeth. You see, it's Macbeth with Lady Macbeth.
Now where Macbeth had just murdered the king and his conscience starts bothering him.
Now you see in this scene, missinks, I heard of voice cry
sleep no more Macbeth. No, no, no, raw no no no
this way, methinks I heard a voice cry sleep no more rhythm, rhythm,
rhythm, rhythm. That's exactly it. You got it. Now,
let's do the test and get it over with. Get the cameras ready,
lights, We're ready, mister Randolph, I shall take lady. Oh no,
you will do you? Where's them? Where's the door? Raoul?
Lily, Lily? Will you please step into the studio? Lily and my
lady? Back there a lily boy, but who happens to have played the
role opposite to me for two solid years the Blaskof on Broadway, where we
set a new record to the wild a claim of all the new of your
critics. What is it they were doing the middle scene? I too seem
to Oh no, Evan, please don't ask Day. I know how stream
strongly you feel about movies, but this is just test. You must do
it for me, all right, all right on your toes. This is
an event. We who have performed Macbeth before the most critical audiences in the
world, must today rise to new and glorious heights. Todayly we are performing
perform mister Maylard Pitch of the Pasady Community Playouse and Hollywood high the camera roll,
mister, we are ready, very well. Here are the scripts,
scripts of parts on your scripts, do I, Edwin Montague, who spent
twenty five years steep to the immortal Macbeth, need a script, Take it
away, get ready to roll. We'll take it right after where I Macbeth
have killed the game and come to you, conscience stricken, are ready,
cameras roll them. Go ahead, lily, These deeds must not these deeds
must not be thought after these ways, so it will make us mad with
hot I heard a voice cry, sleep no more. Macbeth does kill sleep,
murder, sleep a murder asleep sleep and ravels up the knitted sleep up
and knits up the ravel's sleeve of Woa of care, of care, the
life of each day's death, the death of each day's look, death of
each day's life. That's it, mister Randolph. Thank you, And he
wanted me to use a script. Thank you, thank you. I'll wait
for you out in the hall. Well, mister Millard Fitch, did that
come up to the high and lofty standards of drama of Hollywood? High?
That was quite an interesting interpretation of Shakespeare. Mister Montague, however, I
personally know well, Raoul baby, mister Fitz, show you how we do
things here. Oh yes, he gave me an excellent idea of how you
do things here. Good man, isn't he? He was with the Pasadena
Community Playhouse. You know they had a fight like tigers to get him.
Who was after him? Compton Junior College? Compton Junior College? Where's Speed?
I'll have some tuning over the Cydny skolls Hereio Speed, Speed? You
got the song right here? Styles and that terrific good look Ralph sweetheart.
The boys just came up with some terrific songs for the picture. Want you
to run through them? What? Ted? Do you sing it? Songs
for the picture? But you can't do a musical without song. Shakespeare's Macbeth,
a musical in technicolor. I told you we're going all out get these
songs. Wait till they hit the jukeboxes. What's that one? Styles?
The one I like from the battle seat. Yeah, you mean I will
not yield to kiss the ground before young Malcolm's foot or my body? I
throw my wall, I chewed Macbell. That's it? Back d up back
dup, isn't that yeah? On McDuff, Yeah, that's it. Here's
here's what you say here it speed one Dantree and dum dum baby. I
like your style, baby, I like your stuff. But if you want
that now for me, immack up, Oh that's your right between the eyes.
Didn't it roll? Not quite there? Or get this way? You
know the whole play Mac that takes place in Scottland. So I had been
led to believe it's it's that thing about burnham Wood, immortal line though burnham
Wood to become to Dunce and and the pole, and then I get this.
You see it's a little Scotch number you in kilts speed country, m
dumb dumb, No burnham would come to Dunceni in my last sea by my
side. It's a bro bra stop stop, I know, I know,
Row. You don't have to tell me. You want to know if we
have a ballad for you? Yes, it's my ballad? Where's my ballad?
Lit? Here's this? That's be the dgacy you mean? Is this
a dagger that I see before me? The handle todd by hand, let
me clutch. That's it. That's it. I'll get the picture you standing
there with Lady Macbeth and the Verandah in the moonlight, and then you sing
your ballad. Take it speed turn to the dumb Is this to Dago that
I see before me? Or visit you? O? Lady Lady Macbeth,
come let me clutch you in my arm. Oh stop stopping you gentlemen serious
surprised, aren't your sweetheart? Thought this was going to be just another one
of those little bee pictures. We're going all out for my baby. Now
for the title of the picture, We're leaving it all up to you.
The title for Macbeth. Yeah, we boiled it down to two. Do
you like this one? Lady Macbeth was a lady. Lady Macbeth a lady.
Yeah, personally I like it. It has dignity. But if you've
got a dirty mind, you can make your own meeting. Bye. Let
me throw this one at you. Lady Macbeth has her flee. Lady Macbeth
has her flee. Yeah, you know Scotland Highland playing. That's do something
I guess go over their heads across that one outspeed see how we do things
out here? And God something bothering your baby? Oh no, no,
I'm fast to go on or wait, will we check you out in that
costume that Texas Ranger outfit Texas Ranger in Scotland Yeah. You see in the
first ree of you and Lady Macbeth, we're getting Esther Williams, you know.
Yeah. Now, the both of you come over to America fleeing from
persecution by the tzar. Yeah, you go s to the covered wagon,
a couple of Indian fights, never misses, and check the color. You
hit Dodge City and you stick out a ranch. Ye. Then along comes
McDuff, a cattle rustler. Yeah. You and Lady Macbeth are tapped by
him in the middle of the desert. And then then comes the climax.
Lady Macbeth swims for help. Yeah, in the desert. How else she
gonna get Esther Williams in a baby? So get with it, sweetheart,
and with it. Well, that's what I'm planning to do. Baby,
that's feed. That's it. Good. Now, may I acquaint you with
my plan? Shoot, that, sir, is just what I'm intending to
do. I shall get into my Texas Ranger outfit, pull out my trustees
section and shoot you both squarely between the eyes. At my own expense.
I will order a tombstone for both of you, and we'll simply say here
lies sweetheart and baby. Now law wait don't rowl me Macbeth in technicolor charm.
It'll be beautiful, beautiful, My dear friends, My father from New
York overlooks the East River. Every afternoon of garbage scowl passes my window.
I assure you that garbage scowl will look like Cleopatra's barge compared to this picture
you are planning, Randow, This picture will make you. It has already
made me sick Hill. How do you think, myny stretch of your emergies
that Iwin Montagu will be a part of this technically turkey you're planning to foist
on the already punch drunk movie public. But Raoul, quiet, I refuse
to be a party to this Hollywood horse opera you are going to put out
as bacbear. All right, we can change it to a prison picture.
Hey, speed, shoot that to Lluella Speed. Here's another piece of Hollywood
chip chap for Luella. Raoul Randolph alias Edwin Montague is not going to make
what picture for what studio unless it is done exactly as Shakespeare wrote it.
As Shakespeare wrote it, I'd never heard of such a thing. Listen to
reason, sweet Shakespeare wrote it. Oh no, oh, will be the
laughing stock of Hollywood. It'll lose a million dollars. You have a contract,
as Shakespeare said, So what are those your last words? Exactly?
You asked for a drown Raoul ran out by the power vested in me by
Empire Studios. You are here by suspended. No, no, styles,
No, you can't do that to a human being. I'm suspended by Empire
Studio. It's a living death. You know what this means. You cannot
work for another studio until we lift the suspension. You mean I can't even
hand Doctor Kildare a scalpel. No, they can't even use my voice in
a cartoon. No, I can't even tune Jean Autrey's guitar. No,
in other worlds, you will see to it that I can never work in
Hollywood again. Exact turtle, and you have made me the happiest man in
the world. He side, where side Hell, Lily, I've got both
shirts all back the New York Here we come, Edward. This is ridiculous.
We came three thousand miles from now. We're going back. But I
go back and hon his his fam with clean hands. I have refused to
start. I have refused to just spoiled my beloved shakespy ed. Maybe they
listen to reason, this is a fine how do you do here? I
am going back to New York without a tan. My friends are gonna think
I spent the winter in a newsreel theater. I guess the minute I'm on
the train for New York, you may bask in the sunshine of my smile.
The sunshine and you smile. That'll be a day. Here are your
Hollywood sports shirts, slacks and moccasin's. Well, I put them in the
insinerator, burned them all the way as the station. I will fling the
ash into the lobby of Crahman's to the honeys. Hate to leave, my
little god. I was just planning my geranium lily. When we get back
to New York, knowing, dear ag this is house kidding, there will
be dirting to plant them in my den. We've readed this house for months.
The landlord can use the money to finally put a roof of that a
living room, Edwin, I keep telling you that's the patio. Who cares
we're going back. He's side well side, I come in, roll,
baby, you're still here. We got here in time gentlemen, don't tell
me you came all the way here to tell me that you have a new
jump tune called Stompin' with Macbeth. Mister rand Alp, I come with great
news. Tell them, tell him rand Out, brace yourself. Here it
come. The suspension has been lifted. Oh no, you can't do that
to me. Were fools, Raul. We hadn't seen that screen test you
made with your wife with my wife. It's dynamite. We want you two
together. Ha, what a team. We are not going to do that
song and dance version of Macbeth. What Macbeth? You were right on that,
We're not doing it. You're no, We've got something greater than Macbeth.
We have plans for you and your wife. It will make you the
greatest acting team in history. Edwin Lily acting together again. I'm so excited,
I can't see straight. Our studio has a million dollar property. For
twenty years, we've been trying to get the perfect couple for it. You're
it to a tee. They're perfect. What is it? Romeo and Juliet?
Bigger than that, Caesar and clearbarton't make me laugh. It's bigger than
that. Wait till this announcement hit the world. Empire Pictures proudly presents history
and missus Edwin Montague in What Is It? Jigs and Maggie join us again
next Friday night at the same time for another visit with The Magnificent Montague,
starring Marty Woolley, created and directed by Natt Hiken, written by Nat Hiken
and Billy Friedberg, and Seymour was Lily Pert. Kelton was Agnes. Included
in tonight's cast were Alan Reed as styles Feton, Wally Mayer as Speed,
and Jim Bachis as Mayllard Fitch. This is Eddie King, saying stay tuned
for Duffy's Tavern, which follows immediately. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company Boom