NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

May 3, 1943

The  Screen Guild Theater presents Nothing But The Truth, which was a 1941 Paramount Pictures release.

• Produced by: Arthur Hornblow Jr. 
• Directed by: Elliott Nugent
• Written by: Ken Englund, John Hartman

Synopsis ~

Gwen Saunders teams up with her uncle’s employee, Steve Bennett, in an attempt to double her $10,000 investment in the family firm. If she can reach the $20,000 mark, her uncle T.T. Ralston will match the figure. Steve bets that if he can spend an entire day without telling a lie, Ralston and his business partners must double Gwen’s money. Bennett then earns the enmity of everyone involved in his attempt to win the bet.

The Screen Guild Theater (aka The Screen Guild Players), was one of the most popular drama anthology series during the Golden Age of Radio. At this point it is being sponsored by Gulf Oil. From its first broadcast in 1939, up to its farewell in 1952, it showcased radio adaptations of popular Hollywood films. Many Hollywood names became part of the show, including Bette Davis, Bing Crosby, Clark Gable, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, and many more. The actors’ fees were all donated to the Motion Picture Relief Fund, an organization that provides aid to retired actors. Screen Guild Theater was heard on different radio networks, beginning with CBS from 1939 to 1948, NBC from 1948 to 1950, ABC from 1950 to 1951, and back to CBS until its last episode on June 29, 1952. Throughout its run, a total of 527 episodes were produced.

The radio show brought movies to radio for thirty minutes each Monday evening on CBS. The show aired for 242 programs beginning with “Yankee Doodle Dandy” starring James Cagney and ending with “My Reputation.” In between were all time classics such as “Casablanca” with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, “Sergeant York” with Gary Cooper and “Holiday Inn” with Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Dinah Shore.

At this point in its history, the series is sponsored by Lady Esther Cosmetics. 

Nothing But The Truth was a 1941 comedy starring Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard, their third movie together in three years. The premise of the film, that the protagonist must tell the truth for the next 24 hours, is based on a play of the same name written by James Montgomery, itself loosely adapted from the novel by Frederic S. Isham. The book and play had previously formed the basis of an earlier movie, also called Nothing But the Truth, starring Richard Dix and Wynne Gibson. The 1941 film follows the plot of the play much more closely than the 1929 version. The same premise was used for a 1997 Jim Carrey movie, Liar Liar. In 1952, television adaptations were aired in both the US and Canada, and in 1958 in the UK.  

Nothing But The Truth was also presented on radio’s “Old Gold Comedy Theatre” on  January 14, 1945 starring Anne Baxter and Alan Young.

CAST

Lucille Ball

(Gwenn Ralston) was just finished filming of

Best Foot Forward,

her 58th film, which would be released later in 1943. 

Ball plays the role originated by Paulette Goddard. 

Frank Morgan (Steve Bennett, a stock broker / Frank Morgan) is probably best remembered as Professor Marvel and The Wizard in The Wizard of Oz (1939). He had just finished filming Thousands Cheer with Lucille Ball, and the two had also done The Affairs of Cellini in 1934. 

Morgan plays the role originated by Bob Hope. 

Hanley Stafford (T.T. Ralston, Gwenn’s Brother) was born Alfred Austin in 1899 and changed his name to Hanley Stafford to honor his birthplace, Hanley, Staffordshire in England. He was a radio actor famous for playing Baby Snooks’ father. A 1962 episode of “The Lucy Show” was his final screen credit.

Stafford plays the role originated by Edward Arnold. 

Herb Vigran (Muscles) was a character actor from the 1930s to the 1980s.  Over his 50-year career, he made over 350 television and film appearances, many with Lucille Ball or for Desilu. Vigran occasionally turned up on Lucille Ball’s radio show, “My Favorite Husband” (1948-50) and on “I Love Lucy” in various roles. 

Truman Bradley (Announcer) 

Cynthia Ralston, Linda Graham, Iron Man, are played by uncredited performers.  

“TRUTH” TRIVIA

In addition to Bob Hope, one of Lucille Ball’s frequent on screen collaborators, the film also featured Will Wright in an uncredited role. On “I Love Lucy” Wright played the Yonkers locksmith and Sheriff of Ben Fork, Tennessee.  

The film also features Leon Belasco as Dr. Zarak. On “I Love Lucy” he played the art store clerk in “Lucy Becomes a Sculptress” (ILL S2;E15), first aired on January 15, 1953. He has done two other movies with Lucille Ball between 1939 and 1944. He also appeared in three episodes of “The Lucy Show”, all playing the violin. 

In this radio version Hanley Stafford plays T.T. Ralston. His final screen credit was as Kenneth Westcott, Principal of Danfield High School, in “Lucy is a Chaperone” (TLS S1;E27) on April 8, 1963.

From late 1942 to July 1947 Lady Esther Cosmetics sponsored the show which had been previously sponsored by Gulf Oil. It was first known as the “Lady Esther Presents the Screen Guild Players” and then became “The Lady Esther Screen Guild Theater.”

A wager whether someone can keep from lying for 24 hours is also the premise of “Lucy Tells the Truth” (ILL S3;E6) aired on November 9, 1953. Like Steve Bennett, Lucy is put to the test, resulting in some brutal honesty that hurts people’s feelings.   

The commercials are delivered by ‘Lady Esther,’ the spokeswoman for the Lady Esther Cosmetics company. Both commercial breaks pitch anti-aging Lady Esther Face Powder. 

Meta Morgan!  At one point in the narrative, Gwenn tries to convince someone that they didn’t hear Steve (who is hiding under her bed), but heard Frank Morgan on the radio!   

After the story ends, Lucille Ball does a pitch for student nurses.  “War work with a future – as a nurse.” 

CREDITS

Announcer Truman Bradley verbally thanks Paramount Pictures, and says that their latest film is China, starring Loretta Young and Alan Ladd. 

Henry Morgan can currently be seen in MGM’s The Human Comedy.

Lucille Ball will soon be seen in MGM’s Du Barry Was A Lady.