Dangerous Number (1937)

• Director
  • Richard Thorpe
• Writers
  • Carey Wilson(screen play)
  • Leona Dalrymple(from the story by)
  • Bradbury Foote(contributor to dialogue)
• Stars
  • Robert Young
  • Ann Sothern
  • Reginald Owen

  The Dangerous Number of the title is madcap showgirl Elinor (Ann Sothern). Notorious throughout Manhattan for her zany antics, Elinor is also quite a handful for her conservative husband Hank (Robert Young). In addition, Hank must contend with the heroine's flamboyant ex-burlesque queen mother Gypsey (Cora Witherspoon). Not that Hank's family is anything to write home about; the most eccentric member of his clan is cousin William (Reginald Owen), who has lost one girlfriend after another because he refuses to shave off his beard. Trying very, very hard to qualify as a "screwball" comedy, Dangerous Number succeeds about three-fourths of the time. PS: This was Ann Sothern's first starring assignment at MGM.