BIG TIME OR BUST (1933) Regis Toomey, Gloria Shea & Walter Byron | Drama | B&W

Big Time or Bust is a 1933 American comedy-drama directed by Sam Newfield, which stars Regis Toomey, Gloria Shea, and Walter Byron.

SYNOPSIS
Two newly married carnival performers head to New York to make it big on Broadway, but after they get there the wife finds that a wealthy playboy has designs on her.

Jimmy Kane is a high diver in a carnival, with his wife, Betty Roberts as his assistant. Before every dive she yells up to him, "Okay, big boy!" When the carnival closes he decides to travel to New York City and attempt to make it in the big time. However, when they arrive in the city, Kane struggles to get into a show which takes advantage of his diving skills. To make ends meet, Betty takes a position as a singer in a nightclub. She attracts the attention of a handsome playboy, John Hammond. Hammond convinces a theatrical producer to cast her in his next Broadway musical, in which she becomes a huge success.

As Betty's career takes off, Kane becomes more and more hurt and resentful that they are living off of her earnings. As the two drift apart, Betty and Hammond drift closer together. In addition to Hammond, Betty is also the center of attention of many other men. As Kane begins to hear rumors of Betty and Hammond having an affair, his morale drops even further. Hammond, an avowed playboy, falls in love with Betty, and gives her an engraved bracelet to show the depth of his affection. When Kane finds the bracelet, he suspects the worst, and leaves, heading back to the country to find a job in a rural carnival.

When Betty learns where he has gone, she is distraught, and is determined to find him. Kane gains employment in a carnival, but as he is about to make his dive, he realizes he has lost his nerve. He is about to climb down in disgrace when he hears a voice from below yelling up to him, "Okay, big boy!" Looking down, he sees Betty looking up at him.

CAST & CREW
Regis Toomey as Jimmy Kane
Gloria Shea as Betty Roberts
Walter Byron as John Hammond
Nat Carr as Lew Feld
Charles Delaney as Paddy Mellon
Edwin Maxwell as Winthrop Allen
Hooper Atchley as Lewis

Directed by Sam Newfield
Written by George Wallace Sayre
Produced by Sigmund Neufeld
Cinematography Harry Forbes
Edited by Al Clark
Production company Tower Productions
Release date November 10, 1933 (US)
Running time 62 minutes
Country United States
Language English

NOTES
The Film Daily rated the picture "good", complimenting both the direction and photography. They felt the story was familiar, but well-developed. Harrison's Reports gave the film a poor review, calling the story "trite" and predictable, and rating both the sound and photography sub-standard. However, they did compliment the acting work of Toomey and Shea. Motion Picture Daily gave the film a similar review, calling the storyline unoriginal, but giving the cast good marks for their efforts. They also complimented the settings.

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