HOLD THAT GIRL!

March 24, 1934

• Directed by Hamilton MacFadden 

• Written by Dudley Nichols and Lamar Trotti
• Produced by Fox Film Corporation

Synopsis ~ "That girl" is newspaper sob-sister Toni Bellamy (Claire Trevor), whose nose for news gets her into one jam after another, especially when she poses as an exotic dancer to get the goods on a gangster. Most people are fed up with Toni’s intrusiveness, except for Irish detective Barney Sullivan (James Dunn), who’s secretly in love with the girl. Accordingly, it is Barney who comes to the rescue when Toni’s journalistic enthusiasm ends up getting her kidnapped. 

PRINCIPAL CAST

James Dunn (Barney Sullivan) won an Oscar in 1946 for A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball. 

Claire Trevor (Toni Bellamy) won an Oscar in 1949 for Key Largo. She was also nominated in 1938 and 1955. This is her only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Alan Edwards (Tom Mallory) makes his only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Gertrude Michael (Dorothy Lamont) appeared with Lucille Ball in Murder at the Vanities, released two months after this film. 

John Davidson (Ackroyd) makes his only appearance with Lucille Ball. 

Robert McWade (McCloy) also appeared with Lucille Ball in Bunker Bean (1936). 

Effie Ellsler (Grandmother) also appeared with Lucille Ball in The Whole Town’s Talking (1935). 

Jay Ward (Warren) makes his only appearance with Lucille Ball. 

UNCREDITED CAST

Lucille Ball (Girl) makes her seventh film appearance since coming to Hollywood in 1933. She does not play the “Girl” of the title!  Although the above photo is not from Hold That Girl!, it is dated 1934, when Lucille Ball was 23 years old – and a blonde! 

‘HOLD THAT’ TRIVIA

The film was also known as Every Girl for Herself and Woman and the Law.

The film’s highlight is Toni’s courtroom fan dance, performed at the demand of Barney to teach her a lesson.

Critical reception of the film was divided. 

Two years later, screen writer Dudley Nichols won an Oscar for The Informer. He refused to accept his award because of the antagonism between several industry guilds and the academy over union matters. This marked the first time an Academy Award had been declined. Ten years later, the film’s other screen writer, Lamar Trotti, also won an Oscar, for the film Wilson.