1 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
Tight 70-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Behind the Make-Up
1930 1h 10m EN
👍
6.9
SOLID
⭐
5.8
IMDB
★6.9TMDB · 7★5.8IMDB · 153
Drama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Gardoni, a down-on-his-luck vaudeville performer, is taken in by a fellow performer, a clown who has a bicycle riding act. Gardoni shows his appreciation by stealing the clown's act and his girlfriend, whom he marries.
“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”
Where to watch · US
Cast
Hal Skelly
Hap Brown
William Powell
Gardoni
Fay Wray
Marie Gardoni
Kay Francis
Kitty Parker
E.H. Calvert
Dawson
Paul Lukas
Boris
Agostino Borgato
Pierre
Jacques Vanaire
Valet
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Robert Milton
- Writers
- George Manker Watters, Howard Estabrook, Mildred Cram
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
96 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Robert Milton, shot by Charles Lang. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by W. Franke Harling. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Doris Drought shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Hal Skelly and William Powell and Fay Wray carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0020677 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Robert Milton directs. Charles Lang behind the camera. W. Franke Harling scores. Doris Drought cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Tight 70-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
- 296 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
- 3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
- 4Directed by Robert Milton, shot by Charles Lang. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by W. Franke Harling. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Doris Drought shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Hal Skelly and William Powell and Fay Wray carry the top of the cast.
- 8IMDB entry: tt0020677 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 9Only 7 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Charles Lang
- Original score
- W. Franke Harling
- Editing
- Doris Drought
- Costume design
- Travis Banton
- Runtime
- 70 min · 1h 10m
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- NR
- IMDB rating
- 5.8/10 · 153 votes
- MPAA
- Passed
Also by
Robert Milton
Production companies
Who made it
Paramount Pictures
US
Key crew
- EditorDoris Drought
- Costume DesignTravis Banton
- ProducerMonta Bell
- Short StoryMildred Cram
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- suicide
- love triangle
- show business
- debt
- poverty
- illicit affair
- vaudeville performer
Release history · US
When it landed
- Premiere1930-01-11
- Theatrical1930-01-18NR· New York City, New York
Also known as
International titles
- Behind the MakeupUS
