• Rating:
• Genre: Comedy Drama
• Movie Type: Detective Film
• Themes: Members of the Press, Political Corruption
• Director: Nick Grinde
• Main Cast: Ronald Reagan, Eddie Acuff, Robert H. Barrat, Raymond Hatton, Willard Parker
• Release Year: 1937
• Country: US
• Run Time: 61 minutes

Plot

The first of three remakes of the 1933 Paul Muni picture Hi, Nellie, Love is on the Air is historically important as the screen debut of Ronald Reagan. In the original Hi, Nellie, a Winchellesque newspaper reporter is demoted to writing the "advice to the lovelorn" column when he steps on too many important toes. In the remake, reckless radio commentator Andy McLeod (Reagan) gets into hot water when he attacks a corrupt city government (a portent for the future, perhaps?), whereupon his boss disciplines McLeod by forcing him to host an innocuous kiddie program. While advising his youthful audience to eat their spinach and drink their milk, our hero manages to dig up enough dirt to expose the crooks once and for all. In his maiden film effort, Ronald Reagan is pretty good, though some distance removed from The Great Communicator. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

• Ronald Reagan - Andy McLeod
• Eddie Acuff - Dunk Glover
• Robert H. Barrat - J.D. Harrington
• Raymond Hatton - Weston
• Willard Parker - Lee Quimby

Spec O'Donnell - Pinky; Tommy Bupp - Mouse; Jack Mower - Lang; June Travis - Jo Hopkins; Ben Welden - Nicey Carter; Addison Richards - E.E. Nichols; Dick Jones - Bill; William Hopper - Eddie Gould; Herbert Rawlinson - Mr. Copelin; Harry Hayden - Mr. Butler; Fern Barry - Girl; Sonny Bupp - Billie; John Harron - Clerk; Anne Howard - Brunette Girl; Lynne Roberts - Mrs. Copelin; Cliff Saum - Cop; Lee Shumway; Edwin Stanley - Mr. Brown; Jerry Tucker - Youngster; John Pirrone - Curly; John Elliott - Mr. McKenzie; Georgie Billings - Pee-Wee

Credit

Roy Chanslor - Short Story Author; Bryan Foy - Editor; Morton Grant - Screenwriter; Nick Grinde - Director; James Van Trees - Cinematographer