Going Wild

Plot

Rollo Smith and his companion Jack Lane are penniless vagabonds who find themselves ejected from a train at the exclusive White Beach resort after stowing away in the private compartment of famed aviator Robert Story. Due to a series of coincidences, the resort staff and socialites mistake the wide-mouthed Rollo for the celebrated 'Air Ace' and author, leading to a life of luxury and free meals at the Palm Inn. The deception spirals out of control when Rollo is pressured into competing in a high-stakes aerial race against the formidable 'Ace' Benton on Saturday. Despite having never set foot in an airplane, Rollo must maintain the charade to protect the bets placed by his new female admirers, leading to a chaotic and comedic climax in the skies. Ultimately, the film follows Rollo's desperate attempts to learn the basics of flight overnight and survive a race he is entirely unqualified to fly.

Historical Background

1930 was a pivotal year in Hollywood history, marking the transition from the early 'talkie' novelty to more sophisticated sound production. The Great Depression was beginning to impact theater attendance, leading studios to experiment with high-energy comedies to distract the public. This era is also known as the 'Pre-Code' period, where films often contained suggestive dialogue, light nudity, and depictions of vice that would be banned after the strict enforcement of the Hays Code in 1934. The fascination with aviation in the film reflects the post-Lindbergh 'air-mindedness' of the American public during the late 1920s and early 30s.

Making Of

The making of 'Going Wild' was marked by the industry-wide panic regarding the 'death' of the movie musical. After the initial craze of 1929, audiences by late 1930 were actively avoiding films advertised as musicals. Consequently, First National executives spent weeks in the editing room hacking out expensive song-and-dance sequences. This left several cast members, who were hired specifically for their singing voices (like Bernice Claire and Irene Delroy), with significantly reduced roles or appearing only in the background. The aerial sequences were filmed using real aircraft with stunt pilots, though Joe E. Brown performed many of his own physical gags in a cockpit mock-up on the studio lot, including a famous sequence involving a Murphy bed and a vacuum cleaner used for 'flight training.'

Visual Style

The film was shot by Sol Polito, a legendary cinematographer who would later work on 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' and 'Casablanca'. Polito utilized innovative camera mounts to capture the aerial footage, giving the flight sequences a sense of realism and danger that was advanced for 1930. The interior scenes at the Palm Inn utilize the high-key lighting typical of early 1930s comedies to emphasize the glamorous resort setting.

Innovations

The film is notable for its early use of rear-projection for some of the cockpit close-ups, allowing Joe E. Brown to perform his facial contortions while seemingly in flight. The synchronization of sound for the aerial race was also a significant technical challenge, requiring the blending of location-recorded engine noises with studio-recorded dialogue.

Music

The original score was composed by Erno Rapee and David Mendoza. While most of the songs were cut, the background score remains, often featuring instrumental versions of the deleted numbers. The only featured song is 'My Hero Mine,' a comedic duet between Joe E. Brown and Laura Lee. The film also made extensive use of the Warner Bros./First National sound effects library, particularly for the roar of the airplane engines and the comedic 'whizzes' and 'thumps' during the slapstick sequences.

Memorable Scenes

• The 'Flight Training' Scene: Rollo attempts to learn how to fly in his hotel room using a Murphy bed as a cockpit, a vacuum cleaner for engine noise, and an electric fan to simulate wind.
• The Aerial Race: The climactic sequence where Rollo accidentally takes off and spends the entire race trying to figure out how to land while inadvertently performing death-defying stunts.
• The Train Ejection: The opening scene where Rollo and Jack are unceremoniously tossed off the train, setting the plot in motion through a case of being in the right place at the wrong time.

What Critics Said

At the time of its release, Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times praised the film as a 'farce that depends more upon actions than words,' noting that audiences 'actually shrieked with laughter.' Modern critics view it as a charming, if formulaic, example of Joe E. Brown's early work, often noting the visible 'scars' left by the removal of the musical numbers. While not considered a masterpiece, it is frequently cited by film historians for its energetic pace and the technical quality of its early sound-era aerial photography.

What Audiences Thought

The film was a significant hit with general audiences, who embraced Joe E. Brown's boisterous comedy. It performed well at the box office, proving that Brown could carry a film on his comedic timing alone without the need for musical spectacle. Audiences particularly enjoyed the 'training' sequence and the climactic, chaotic air race, which provided the kind of escapist thrills sought during the early years of the Depression.

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