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Bumping Into Broadway (1919)
Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels, Standing Liberty Quarters, Buffalo Nickels
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The 1919 silent film "Bumping Into Broadway" starred Harold Lloyd and Bebe Daniels as two young people
trying to enter the New York City Broadway theatre world.
The two are credited as "The Boy" and "The Girl." Both live in a rooming house.
Bebe is an aspiring showgirl and Harold is an aspiring writer. Both are financially broke.
The film features many jokes about money and the lack of it.
When their landlady "Bearcat" Simpson demands the rent, Harold dumps some coins on a table.
The United States coins include a Standing Liberty Quarter, a Mercury Dime, a Buffalo Nickel,
and a Lincoln Cent.
1. Title
The film opens with a few still scenes and a prologue:
BROADWAY -- Street of a million bright lights and playground of the money kings.
A hundred-dollar bill wouldn't last any longer here than a crippled grasshopper in a sand-storm.
2. Broadway theatres
The glamour of Broadway theatres.
BUT - there is the other side of Broadway.
For instance, Bearcat Simpson's boarding house where the floors are dyed in prune juice.
The Girl. Rehearsing two months without pay.
She has to stretch a dollar so far that the eagle looks like a stork.
3. The Girl - Bebe Daniels
Bebe is doing her laundry.
The Boy. Trying to write a Broadway musical comedy.
He once composed for the Peoria High School.
His finances are so low he has to lean over when he counts his money.
4. The Boy - Harold Lloyd
Harold is typing out his play on a new typewriter.
5. The old "hunt and peck" system
The landlady "Bearcat" Simpson hands out noticies demanding the rent.
3rd and final notice!
pay up, get out or be locked in -
Balance due -- $3.75
6. Getting out the money
Harold puts some coins on the table.
7. Coins on the table
The coins are a Standing Liberty Quarter, a Buffalo Nickel, another nickel, a Mercury Dime,
a Lincoln Cent, and another nickel. These coins were fairly new in 1919.
The Standing Liberty Quarter was minted from 1916 to 1930, the Mercury Dime was minted
from 1916 to 1945, the Buffalo or Indian-Head nickel was minted from 1913 to 1938,
and the Lincoln Cent was first minted in 1909.
8. Coins on the table
Another look at the coins on the table.
Harold sees that Bebe is broke and gives her some money.
A title card states what he tells her.
9. "That's all right. I've got so much money my pockets ache."
The title card has drawings of coins with wings flying away.
Bebe and Harold head for the same Broadway theater separately.
10. Bebe at the theatre
Bebe attempts to join a dance routine but the dance manager tells her:
"You dance as if your feet were enemies. You're fired."
Harold manages to get into the office of an executive.
11. Harold emerges
Harold encounters Bebe waiting in the manager's office.
He sees the manager, shows him his play, and is promptly thrown out into the waiting room.
Bebe leaves and encounters:
The Stage-door Johnnie. Cute enough to be killed; it ought to be done.
The Johnnie offers to buy Bebe a lunch and takes her to his car.
12. Harold follows the car
The Johnnie takes Bebe to a private gambling casino.
The Sky Limit Club. Shady but speedy.
To become a member you have to travel so fast that your bankroll needs a windshield.
Johnny follows the couple into the club.
13. The Sky Limit Club
Harold sees a roulette table is in action while the Johnnie tries to get liquor into Bebe.
14. Johnnie working on Bebe
Bebe is a respectable girl and refuses.
15. Harold at the roulette table
The croupier believes that Harold had placed a winning bet and gives him a pile of money.
16. Chips or coins?
The round items are of different sizes, are they casino gaming chips or real coins?
The police raid the casino.
17. The police raid
Most of the gamblers quickly exit leaving Bebe and Harold who is comically chased around
the casino by dozens of policemen.
18. Harold in hiding
The police leave without Harold and the pair emerge from their hiding places.
19. Harold and Bebe emerge
20. Harold and Bebe
The happy ending.
Cast, Directors, Writers:
Harold Lloyd as The Boy
Bebe Daniels as The Girl
Director: Hal Roach
Writers: Hal Roach, Harold Lloyd, H. M. Walker
Bebe Daniels as The Girl
Writers: Hal Roach, Harold Lloyd, H. M. Walker
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