International House ( Paramount Pictures, 1933)

One Sheet Poster

Bela Lugosi plays a jealous ex-husband in this all-star comedy set in the International House Hotel in Wu Hu, China, where a Chinese inventor is trying to sell his television-like invention, the radioscope. Lugosi, who had filed for bankruptcy in October, 1932, was filming International House at Paramount during the day and Night of Terror at Columbia through the night as he tried to work his way out of debt.

Production Company: Paramount Pictures

Director: Eddie Sutherland

Screenplay: Francis Martin and Walter Deleon

Original Story: Louis E. Heifetz and Neil Brant

Cinematography: Ernest Haller

Costumes: Travis Banton

Music & Lyrics: Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin

Running Time: 70 minutes

Copyright Number: LP3918, June 3 1933

Cast:

Peggy Hopkins Joyce: Herself

W.C. Fields: Professor Quail

Stuart Erwin: Tommy Nash

Sari Maritza: Carol Fortescue

George Burns: Dr. Burns

Gracie Allen: Nurse Allen

Bela Lugosi: General Petronovich

F. Chase Taylor: Colonel Stoopnagle

Edmund Breese: Dr. Wong

Budd Hulick: Bud

Lumsden Hare: Sir Mortimer Fortescue

Franklin angborn: Hotel Manager

Harrison Greene: Her von Baden

Henry Sedley: Serge Borsky

James Wong: Inspector Sun

Sterling Holloway: Entertainer in sailor uniform

RudyVallee: Himself

Cab Callowy and His Orchestra: Themselves

Baby Rose Marie: Herself

Ernest Wood: Newsreel reporter

Edwin Stanley: Mr. Rollins

Clem Beauchamp: Cameraman

Jerry Drew: Cameraman

Norman Ainslee: Ticket manager

Louis Vincenot: Hotel clerk

Bo-Ching: Bell-hop

Wong Chung: Health Inspector

Etta lee: Peggy’s maid

Lorna Andre: Chorus Queen

Ethan Laidlow: General’s henchman

Carry Daumery: Hotel guest

Andre Cheron: Hotel guest

Bo Ling: Cigar counter clerk

Frank O’Connor: Telegram clerkThe Hollywood Reporter, February 16, 1933

Cyril Ring: Mr. Brown, assistant hotel manager

Mary Jane Sloan: Sugar Bowl

Edwin Stanley: Mr. Rollins, electrictricity company boss

Gwen Setter: Tea Pot

The Milwaukee Sentinel, December 13, 1932

The Evening Independent, October 13, 1932

The Milwaukee Sentinel, November 29, 1932

Schenectady Gazette, December 28, 1932

The Lewiston Daily Sun, January 12, 1933

International House, The Lewiston Daily Sun, January 12, 1933

The Evening Independent, February 10, 1933

The Hollywood Reporter, February 16, 1933

Lugosi to Paramount

Bela Lugosi was signed yesterday by Paramount for the third leading role in “International House,” which Eddie Sutherland is directing. The Sugarman-Delaney office negotiated for the player.

The Evening Independent, February 22, 1933

The Evening Independent, February 27, 1933

The Hollywood Reporter, March 3, 1933

Pitsburgh Post-Gazette, March 29, 1933

Schenectady Gazette, March 30, 1933

Prescott Evening Courier, April 3, 1933

Schenectady Gazette, April 6, 1933

St. Pitsburgh Times, March 12, 1933

The Hollywood Reporter, May 8, 1933

“International House fast”, funny movie “BURLECUE ‘

The Film Daily, May 19, 1933

The Film Daily, May 24, 1933

The New York Times, May 27, 1933

Wild Fan

At the Paramount they are dispensing humor by the shot-gun method, and it should be said at once that “International House” has some direct hits. In a mad scenario the new film finds a generous amount of space for such diverse comics as W. C. Fields, Stuart Erwin, Burns and Allen and Stoopnagle and Budd, with a corner for Peggy Hopkins Joyce to dig gold in. Measured in laughs, this potpourri of unrelated talents is surprisingly good. A Chinese of questionable genius brings most of the cast to the “International House” with his announcement of an invention which combines the best features of the radio and television. Bela Lugosi, with the sinister eyes, is on hand to represent Russia at the demonstration. Mr. Erwin, acting for an American company, has a talent for catching childhood diseases, and when he comes down with the measles the “International House” is quarantined. George Burns and Gracie Allen are the house doctor and nurse, occupations which let them run through their hilarious dialogue at any given moment. How W. C. Fields, whose destination is Kansas City, finds his way into this lunatic ménage in a helicopter is something that cannot possibly matter after the picture has started on its unsteady course. With his regal and somewhat beery manner, his precious silk hat, his frozen face and his unlit cigar, he keeps his audiences in perpetual roars. His athletic argument with the hotel clerk, which brings most of the “International House” thundering about his ears, is the funniest thing in the picture, unless it be his clandestine rendezvous with Miss Joyce in her boudoir. Doctor Wong’s demonstrations of his great invention permit the introduction of such radio entertainers as Rudy Vallee, Cab Galloway and Baby Rose Marie. To Mr. Vallee falls the only really inept episode in “International House,” and that is the fault of the script. Although the writing is uneven, a great deal of it is funny, and it is of particular help to Mr. Fields and to Burns and Allen. Showboat. Gauged by the amount of applause and the chuckles from the audience the Paramount can boast of one of its best stage presentations. In a showboat setting the headliners, Ray Bolger and Gus Van, display their versatility. Mr. Bolger as usual holds the attention by his ingenuity, especially when giving his terpsichorean satire of Rubinstein’s “Melody in F,” while Mr. Van, once teamed with the late Joe Schenck, captures his share of honors with several character songs. The remainder of the bill comprises entertainers of unusual calibre. Among them are Helen Lynd, who impersonates Maurice Chevalier, Zasu Pitts and Mae West; Ann Judy and Zeke, in a hill-billy turn; Pop and Louis, two talented young tap dancers; the Buccaneers, and the Lucas Octet. The entire presentation has been staged by R. H. Burnside. INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, based on a story by Lou Heifetz and Neil Brant; music and lyrics by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin; directed by Edward Sutherland; a Paramount production. At the Paramount. Peggy Hopkins Joyce . . . . . Peggy Hopkins Joyce Professor Quail . . . . . W. C. Field Tommy Nash . . . . . Stuart Erwin Carol Fortescue . . . . . Sari Maritza Dr. Burns . . . . . George Burns Nurse Allen . . . . . Gracie Allen General Petronovich . . . . . Bela Lugosi Dr. Wong . . . . . Edmund Breese Sir Mortimer Fortescue . . . . . Lumsden Hare Hotel manager . . . . . Franklin Pangborn Herr von Baden . . . . . Harrison Greene