When's Your Birthday?

"Color sequences in Technicolor" have been lost for this film; apparently, the animated opening was one of them. Nicely done, this short cartoon turns out to be occurring in the mind of defeated middle-weight boxer Joe E. Brown (as Dustin Willoughby). An astrology enthusiast, Mr. Brown believes his luck in and out of the ring depends upon proper alignment of the stars. He adopts a stray dog ("Zodiac") and goes to visit fiancée Suzanne Kaaren (as Diane Basscombe). Brown calls off their June wedding due to a bad astrological forecast, but will soon meet pretty secretary Marian Marsh (as Jerry Grant). Before that, he bungles his job as a busboy. Brown disguises himself as a chorus girl and then a bearded fortune teller. As the latter, he is hired by carnival barker Fred Keating (as Larry Burke). Lastly, brown gets back in the boxing ring. This was the first film Brown made after leaving Warner Bros., where he'd become a box office super-star. Fit and funny, Brown is able to carry some silly material. Supporting performers Maude Eburne and Edgar Kennedy are worth their weight in laughs.

***** When's Your Birthday? (2/19/37) Harry Beaumont ~ Joe E. Brown, Marian Marsh, Fred Keating, Maude Eburne