The Big Broadcast of 1938 1938

Comedy

Music

Romance

Runtime

94 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Mitchell Leisen

Made by

Paramount Pictures

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The Big Broadcast of 1938 Plot Summary

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In a splashy setup billed as “The Race of the Ages,” two giants of the sea collide in a two-and-a-half-day Atlantic dash: the forty-million-dollar, radio-powered S.S. Gigantic faces off against its traditional rival, the S.S. Colossal. The Gigantic’s owner, T. Frothingill Bellows W.C. Fields, hopes to clinch victory through mischief, planning to send his nearly identical younger brother S.B. Bellows W.C. Fields aboard the Colossal to sow trouble and tilt the race in his Bellows Line’s favor.

But the plan is upended when S.B., delayed by a golf game, ascends into the high-stakes spectacle and somehow lands on the Gigantic’s deck, upsetting Captain Stafford Russell Hicks and throwing the crew into quick-thinking chaos. The ship also welcomes Martha Bellows Martha Raye, the notoriously unlucky daughter who arrives after surviving the yacht Hesperus V’s wreck, her presence adding a wild card to an already tense voyage.

Meanwhile, Buzz Fielding Bob Hope, the beloved OBC radio emcee just out of “alimony jail,” is broadcasting live from the Gigantic and juggling a growing tangle of relationships. He tries to keep the show running while navigating his three ex-wives—Cleo Fielding Shirley Ross, Grace Fielding Grace Bradley, and Joan Fielding Virginia Vale—as well as his on-again, off-again romance with Dorothy Wyndham Dorothy Lamour and his haplessly loyal microphone assistant Mike Ben Blue. The interplay among these powers on board—humor, envy, and romance—gives the voyage a lively, kinetic rhythm.

Dorothy Wyndham becomes the focal point of a budding romance with First Officer Robert Hayes, the inventor of the Gigantic’s enormous radio power plant, a role brought to life by Leif Erickson Leif Erickson. Hayes’s presence adds a layer of earnest charm to the onboard capers, offering a steadier counterweight to the shipboard comedy. The ship’s musical heartbeat arrives through dazzling performances staged for the passengers and the radio audience, featuring specialty appearances by Kirsten Flagstad Kirsten Flagstad and Wilfrid Pelletier Wilfrid Pelletier of the Metropolitan Opera Company, whose presence elevates the atmosphere above mere farce.

As the voyage unfolds, the film threads together the racing plot with a tangle of family dynamics, old flames, and new affections, all against a backdrop of daring maritime engineering and on-deck entertainment. The result is a breezy, star-studded comedy that mixes slapstick with warmth, keeping the narrative buoyant even as rival schemes collide with genuine human moments. The story moves with a buoyant energy, never losing sight of its core promise: a public spectacle of speed, spectacle, and the stubborn, comedic resilience of the people aboard the Gigantic.

The Big Broadcast of 1938 Timeline

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Race kicks off from New York

The Gigantic and the Colossal launch the 'Race of the Ages' from New York's Pier 97, bound for Cherbourg. Bellows plans to win by relying on a covert sabotage scheme involving his younger brother S.B. The departure marks the start of a brutal two-and-a-half day Atlantic duel.

departure New York, Pier 97

Bellows' sabotage plan disclosed

Bellows reveals he intends to send his nearly identical younger brother S.B. to sail aboard the Colossal and sow trouble. The move exposes a ruthless bid to rig the race in favor of the Gigantic and against the rival liner. The scheming sets the underlying conflict for the voyage.

pre-voyage Bellows' offices

S.B lands aboard Gigantic by accident

As the ships press toward the Atlantic, S.B. misses his transfer and boards the Gigantic by mistake. The scene startles Captain Stafford and unsettles the ship's routines with an unexpected stowaway aboard. S.B.'s presence immediately complicates the sabotage plot and the crossing.

early voyage On the deck of the Gigantic, Atlantic

Hesperus V wreck and Martha's survival

The yacht Hesperus V wrecks at sea, and Martha, S.B.'s notoriously unlucky daughter, survives the disaster. She is rescued from the wreck and her fate becomes a focal point for the voyage. The incident injects drama and a new dynamic into the ship's crossing.

early voyage Ocean rescue area

Martha joins the Gigantic

Martha brings her flamboyant personality aboard the Gigantic, joining the passenger list. Her arrival stirs tension and curiosity among the crew and passengers as the race continues. The onboard dynamics shift with her presence in play.

early voyage Gigantic deck

Buzz Fielding takes to the airwaves

Buzz Fielding, the popular OBC radio emcee, broadcasts live from the Gigantic to accompany the race. He tries to keep up with the fast pace of events while managing his show for the listeners. The broadcast anchors the voyage in the public eye.

start to mid-voyage Gigantic onboard studio

Buzz's personal life amid alimony jail

Buzz juggles his three ex-wives and his lukewarm girlfriend while handling his inept microphone assistant. The personal chaos provides comic relief amid the high-stakes race. His relationships create ongoing tension behind the scenes.

early to mid-voyage Gigantic

Dorothy and Robert Hayes ignite romance

Dorothy is courted by Robert Hayes, the first officer and inventor of the Gigantic's enormous radio power plant. Their growing romance unfolds as the ship hurtles toward its destination. The affair intertwines with the race and the shipboard social scene.

mid-voyage Gigantic

Tension over S.B.'s presence aboard

S.B.'s presence aboard keeps Captain Stafford wary, as the sabotage plot remains a looming threat. Crew members balance hospitality with suspicion about the stowaway. The tension undercuts the smooth progress of the voyage.

mid-voyage Gigantic

Radio-powered spectacle keeps the voyage alive

The voyage becomes a rolling radio spectacle as Buzz announces race progress and schedules a string of musical acts for the passengers. The Gigantic's media profile drives public interest and energy aboard. The dual pull of technology and entertainment sustains the journey.

mid to late voyage Gigantic

The power plant and innovation on display

Hayes's status as inventor and the Gigantic's 'radio-powered' plant highlight the ship's technological edge. The crew and passengers witness the power and promise of such a system as part of the race narrative. The pursuit of victory becomes a showcase for innovation as much as for speed.

mid to late voyage Gigantic

Final stretch and personal drama converge

Approaching Cherbourg, tension over rival ambitions, sabotage fears, and personal entanglements peaks. The race and its stories keep accelerating toward a climax, with every passenger and crew member watching the outcome. The journey leaves the destination in sight, intensifying the drama aboard.

late voyage Atlantic to Cherbourg

The Big Broadcast of 1938 Characters

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Buzz Fielding (Bob Hope)

Popular OBC radio emcee who juggles three ex-wives, a lukewarm girlfriend, and a bumbling sidekick while keeping the airwaves lively. His fast-talking humor and self-serving wit drive much of the shipboard comedy, even as he navigates personal entanglements. He represents showbiz charm with a chaotic personal life.

🎭 Comedy 🎤 Radio

Dorothy Wyndham (Dorothy Lamour)

Leading woman on the Gigantic who becomes involved with the ship's romance subplot and with Robert Hayes. She embodies grace and romantic allure, contributing to the film's lighthearted dramatic tension. Her presence catalyzes the interwoven relationships aboard the liner.

💃 Romance 🎶 Music

Robert Hayes (Leif Erickson)

First Officer and inventor of the Gigantic's massive radio power plant; competent, principled, and drawn to Dorothy. He represents technical prowess and steadiness amid the ship's chaotic social dynamics. His evolving relationship with Dorothy adds a romantic thread to the voyage.

⚙️ Technology 🧭 Adventure

Martha Bellows (Martha Raye)

S.B.'s outrageously unlucky daughter who is rescued after the yacht Hesperus V wreck. She brings a blend of exuberance and misfortune to the trip, contributing to comic mishaps and dramatic reversals. Her presence adds a touch of unpredictability to the race.

😂 Comedy 🧸 Fun

Cleo Fielding (Shirley Ross)

Buzz's ex-wife who becomes entangled in the ship's romantic and comic subplot. Her relationship with Buzz compounds the show's dramatic tension and humor. She embodies the tangled personal alliances that flavor the voyage.

💔 Romance 🧭 Showbiz

Grace Fielding (Grace Bradley)

Another ex-wife of Buzz Fielding who participates in the social dynamics and humor of the voyage. Her presence heightens the complexities of Buzz's love life, providing additional color to the shipboard antics. She contributes to the ensemble's lively interactions.

💬 Dialogue 🛳️ Social

Joan Fielding (Virginia Vale)

Buzz's third ex-wife who adds to the ensemble of relationships and humor aboard the Gigantic. Her interactions with Buzz reveal the comic chaos of the show's marital entanglements. She helps populate the ship with social dynamics and witty dialogue.

💬 Gossip 🎉 Social

Captain Stafford (Russell Hicks)

Master of the Gigantic, tasked with maintaining order amid the chaos of a publicity-driven race and crew politics. He represents authority and seamanship, facing the unusual dilemmas of saboteurs and star performers aboard. His leadership anchors the voyage's perilous events.

🧭 Leadership ⚓ Maritime

T. Frothingill Bellows / S.B. Bellows (W.C. Fields)

Owner of the Bellows Line and mastermind behind the plan to sabotage the rival ship, a source of corporate cunning and comic mischief. His schemes create the external pressure that fuels the race's tension and farcical outcomes. He embodies the film's satirical bite on business magnates.

🎭 Satire 💼 Business

Prisoner Playing Harmonica (Irving Bacon)

Uncredited, minor role adding to the film's ensemble color; a small moment that nods to the broader, vaudeville-inspired cast. This character contributes to the period-appropriate texture of the comedy. A brief, quirky beat in the shipboard performance lineup.

🎶 Cameo 🤹‍♂️ Quirk

The Big Broadcast of 1938 Settings

Learn where and when The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

1938

The events occur in 1938, a period when radio variety and large-scale musical productions dominated entertainment. The shipboard race unfolds as a grand publicity spectacle, blending technology, spectacle, and comedy on the high seas. The era's fascination with progress is reflected in the Gigantic's 'radio-powered' design and the lavish, performance-filled voyage.

Location

New York Pier 97, S.S. Gigantic (Ocean Liner), Atlantic Ocean, Cherbourg

The voyage centers on the luxury liner Gigantic, departing from New York's Pier 97 and racing the Colossal across the Atlantic to Cherbourg. The ship's deck doubles as a floating stage for musical acts and radio broadcasts, reflecting the film's showbiz spirit. The crossing is planned to take two and a half days, emphasizing a high-stakes, confined voyage in a floating theater.

🚢 Ocean liner 🗺 Transatlantic route 🎭 Showbiz backdrop

The Big Broadcast of 1938 Themes

Discover the main themes in The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🏁

Rivalry

Two mighty ships compete for speed and prestige, with sabotage added as a plot device. The 'radio-powered' Gigantic embodies progress while Colossal represents tradition, heightening the tension of the race. The ongoing rivalry drives the comedy, danger, and the scramble for control aboard the vessel.

🎤

Showbiz & Radio

A live radio broadcast anchors the voyage, turning every moment into a performance. Buzz Fielding juggles ex-wives and fame while staging a parade of musical acts, creating a running commentary on celebrity culture. The ship becomes a floating variety show, blending fiction with entertainment.

💞

Romance

Dorothy Wyndham's romance with Robert Hayes threads through the voyage, adding personal stakes to the high-stakes race. Romantic entanglements mingle with comic misunderstandings, especially around Buzz's relationships. The evolving affections provide warmth amid the shipboard chaos.

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The Big Broadcast of 1938 Spoiler-Free Summary

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In a spectacle billed as “The Race of the Ages,” two ocean giants prepare to clash in a frantic dash across the Atlantic. The S.S. Gigantic and its rival, the S.S. Colossal, are set to engage in a high-stakes competition, with the owner of the Gigantic, T. Frothingill Bellows, plotting to secure victory through unconventional means. His scheme involves his mischievous, look-alike brother, S.B. Bellows, setting the stage for a journey where family rivalry and maritime mischief promise to churn the waters before the ships even leave the dock.

Aboard the luxury liner, the atmosphere vibrates with the energy of a live radio broadcast, helmed by the charismatic Buzz Fielding. Fresh from a stint in “alimony jail,” Buzz attempts to keep the show running smoothly while juggling a chaotic personal life. With three ex-wives—Cleo, Grace, and Joan—roaming the deck and a current romantic interest in Dorothy Wyndham, the emcee finds his professional duties entangled with unresolved feelings. His efforts to manage the spectacle are further complicated by the presence of First Officer Robert Hayes, whose earnest nature and connection to the ship’s engineering add a layer of grounded charm to the proceedings.

The voyage promises a mix of screwball comedy and musical elegance, elevated by the presence of the notoriously unlucky Martha Bellows and performances from renowned opera stars. As the passengers settle in, the line between the race’s competitive spirit and the onboard entertainment begins to blur. With schemes brewing on the bridge and romances intertwining on the deck, the film sets a course for a breezy, star-studded adventure where the true spectacle is found in the collision of personalities aboard the Gigantic.

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