Calm Yourself

Calm Yourself
Calm Yourself
	Film poster
Directed by	George B. Seitz
Screenplay by	Arthur Kober
Based on	Calm Yourself!; 1934 novel; by Edward Hope
Produced by	Lucien Hubbard
Starring	Robert Young; Madge Evans; Betty Furness; Ralph Morgan; Nat Pendleton; Hardie Albright
Cinematography	Lester White
Edited by	Conrad A. Nervig
Music by	Charles Maxwell
Production; company	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	June 28, 1935;
Running time	70 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Calm Yourself is a 1935 American comedy film directed by George B. Seitz and written by Arthur Kober. The film stars Robert Young, Madge Evans, Betty Furness, Ralph Morgan, Nat Pendleton and Hardie Albright. The film was released on June 28, 1935, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.^[1]^[2]

Plot

Advertising executive Preston 'Pat' Patton is fired from his job by Col. Allenby when Allenby catches Patton and Allenby's daughter, Mary Elizabeth, kissing. Pat keeps telling the frenzied Allenby, “Calm yourself!” and is inspired to create Confidential Services Incorporated, supposedly founded in 1908, a business that undertakes every kind of difficult task so that his clients may calm themselves. Pat is the only employee, and must pretend to be a female secretary on the phone, but he manages to deluge the city with letters advertising his services. On his first assignment, Pat gets off on the wrong track by delivering the wrong drunk to a wife's bed.

Then, prominent banker Kenneth Rockwell summons Pat to his office. Rockwell is well aware of Pat's deceits, but he likes the letter and thinks Pat can help him.

When Rockwell and his first wife were divorced, almost 20 years ago, she took their three-month-old daughter, Rosalind, to California. He has recently married a woman who is much younger than him. He did not conceal the first marriage, but he never mentioned dates, the child, or his own age. He has just received a wire from Rosalind announcing her arrival on the afternoon train. He hires Pat to keep Rosalind away until he can sound out his new wife.

Pat meets Rosalind at the train and tells her that her father is ready to ship her back to California. When she asks about her father, he describes the ill-tempered Col. Allenby, takes her to Allenby's building at 6 p.m., just as he is coming out, and provokes a heated quarrel with Allenby on the street by telling him that he and Allenby's daughter, Mary Elizabeth, are engaged. Witnessing but not overhearing the argument from the car, Rosalind loses all interest in her father. She has only $25 and wants to stay in New York, so Pat persuades her to be his secretary. Mary Elizabeth is jealous, and they quarrel when he refuses to fire Rosalind.

They all become involved in a complex comic misadventure that includes a baby, a Great Dane, and the police. In the end, Rosalind and her father meet at last, and she is very relieved that he is not Allenby. It turns out that his wife knew his age, but not that he had a daughter. Rockwell is about to introduce them, but Rosalind and Pat are deep in a kiss. When Pat declares they are going to be married, Rosalind protests, weakly. "Calm yourself!" he replies, and they embrace.

Cast

Robert Young as Preston 'Pat' Patton
Madge Evans as Rosalind Rockwell
Betty Furness as Mary Elizabeth Allenby
Ralph Morgan as Mr. Kenneth S. Rockwell
Nat Pendleton as Knuckles Benedict
Hardie Albright as Bobby Kent
Claude Gillingwater as Col. Allenby
Shirley Ross as Mrs. Ruth Rockwell
Raymond Hatton as Mike
Herman Bing as Mr. Sam Bromberg
Paul Hurst as Detective Roscoe
Shirley Chambers as Joan Vincent
Hale Hamilton as Mr. M.B. Kent
Isabelle Keith as Mrs. Gloria Lansell
Clyde Cook as Joe
Richard Tucker as Police Inspector
Ivan Miller as Police lieutenant
Charles Trowbridge as Mr. Lansell
Tempe Pigott as Anne 'Annie'
Adrian Morris as Dutch – Gangster

References

^ "Calm Yourself (1935) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
^ "Calm Yourself". TV Guide. Retrieved 19 November 2014.