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 It Happened in Hollywood (1937) is Samuel Fuller's second screenwriting credit shared with Ethel Hill (The Little Princess) and Harvey Fergusson (Hot Saturday). Although The Jazz Singer in 1927 is considered the first official talkie film, Fuller had an idea for a story contrasting silents and talkies. Richard Dix stars as a famous Hollywood western star in silent films who tries to transition to talkies but has troubles. His co-star is played by Fay Wray whose natural beauty makes her a sought after star in the talkies. Other stars in It Happened in Hollywood (also called Once A Hero) include Billy Burrud, Victor Kilian, Granville Bates, Franklin Pangborn, William B. Davidson and Charles Arnt.
 Western star Tim Bart (Dix) is an on-screen hero. Not only does he shine in his root n' toot 'n westerns saving damsels in distress, he's so popular with kids he starts a Tim Bart fan club. He tours hospitals and orphanages where needy kids love watching his movie Heroes of the West - starring Gloria Gay (Wray) - and meeting him in person. In one hospital, a young boy that goes by Billy the Kid is about to head into surgery as Tim approaches his bedside. A tearful Billy seems to be barely hanging on, so Tim promises if he gets well and comes to California, he can visit him.
One of the things I find interesting is the actual filming of It Happened in Hollywood. It definitely is a great example of early filmmaking. On close ups of Heroes of the West you can tell Dix is sitting on a horse as the background streams by behind him; the same for when Gloria seems in peril. She's often standing in front of a moving background. It's also fun to listen to the kid's voices booing the villains and cheering on their hero, Tim as they watch his film.
Richard Dix & Charles Arnt
When Tim tries to move into talkies, he's too ethical. When Jed Reed (Arnt), one of his promoters, suggests they use pictures from the crippled kids in the orphanage, Tim doesn't want to tarnish his image for all the kids who see him as hero. Tim replies, "Ah, forget it, I'm not going to use cripples and orphans to get my name in the paper. (Too bad some of the 21st Century actors of today don't have those morals!)
Tim is summoned back to Hollywood where he's informed that talkies have pushed cowboy pictures off the studios lists. He and Gloria screen test for a different film. The script is iffy, the actors nervous and Tim can't get his words unjumbled. That's okay as the director has brought in dialogue coach Mr. Forsythe (Franklin Pangborn - who starred in 224 films including A Star is Born and My Dream is Yours).
William B. Davidson
Gloria makes the grade, Tim doesn't. Gloria is falling for Tim and tries to talk director Al Howard (William B. Davidson, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Up In Arms) into giving him a break. Howard doesn't buy it until one day when he sees Tim in a real bar fight and decides he'll put Tim in a gangster movie. Tim flubs that opportunity up as well when he refuses to shoot innocent people in the movie. His big estate where he hoped to start a camp for kids goes up for sale.
Virginia Rendell
Hard times for Tim become the heartfelt premise of the last act of the film. Tim is ready to hit the road and leave Hollywood when Billy shows up and makes Tim realize he has to give Billy his big party with celebrity look a-likes James Cagney (Bob O'Keefe), Charlie Chaplin (Eugene DeVerdi), W.C. Fields (James May), Clark Gable (Philip Waldron), Bing Crosby (Earl Haddon), Fred Astaire (Don Eddy), Mae West (Virginia Rendell), and Ginger Rogers (Beatrice Coleman). Gloria helps arrange the party at which Tim realizes he has other options than leaving town. Some are not so good!
The kids in film are really good, especially Billy Burrud (Captain's Courageous, The Night Hawk) who has the acting chops of similar kid stars in the 1920s, 30s and 40s like the Watson clan (Bobs, Billy, Coy, Delmar, Harry, Gloria, Louise, Vivian) who collectively made a lot films. Zeffie Tilbury plays Miss Gordon; a neighbor of Tim's who calls in some favors for the big party. She started in films in 1917 and is an early film icon starring in films like Mystery of Edwin Drood, Tobacco Road and 70 others.
 Dix, who made 100 films and was nominated for Best Actor in Cimarron (1930) plays his part like a seasoned cowboy and is not hard to believe as a hero or a man out of luck. Wray, who held audiences captive in more than 100 films, is also superb; sweet, beautiful and genuinely nice. Of course she went on to have a huge movie career and is best remembered for her role in King Kong (1933) although it's not her best acting by far.
It Happened in Hollywood is a great film to watch and a good sampling of Fuller's work
Director: Harry Lachman
Writer: Samuel Fuller, Harvey Fergusson, Ethel Hill, screenplay; Myles Connolly, story (Once A Hero)
Cast: Richard Dix, Billy Burrud, Victor Kilian, Granville Bates, Franklin Pangborn, William B. Davidson, Charles Arnt.
Rating: Not Rated, suitable for all ages
Classic Movie Guide Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Run Time: 67 minutes
Studio: Columbia Pictures
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