| Hook, Line and Sinker | |
|---|---|
 Poster for the film | |
| Directed by | Edward F. Cline Frederick Fleck (assistant) |
| Written by | Ralph Spence Tim Whelan |
| Produced by | William LeBaron Myles Connolly (assoc.)[1] |
| Starring | Bert Wheeler Robert Woolsey, Dorothy Lee |
| Cinematography | Nicholas Musuraca |
| Edited by | Archie Marshek |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 72 minutes[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $287,000[3] |
| Box office | $780,000[4] |
Hook, Line and Sinker is a 1930 Americanpre-Codeslapstick comedy directed byEdward F. Cline from a screenplay byRalph Spence andTim Whelan. It was the third starring vehicle for the comedy team ofWheeler & Woolsey (Bert Wheeler andRobert Woolsey), and also featuredDorothy Lee. It would be one of the largest financial successes for RKO Pictures in 1930.
Two fast-talkinginsurance salesmen — Wilbur Boswell and J. Addington Ganzy — help penniless socialite Mary Marsh to turn a dilapidatedhotel, which was willed to her, into a thriving success. They soon run into trouble, however, in the form of two sets of rival gangsters who want to break into the hotelsafe; also, Mary's mother, Rebecca Marsh, wants her to marry wealthy lawyer John Blackwell, although Mary has fallen in love with Wilbur. And while she takes an instant dislike to Wilbur, Rebecca falls for Ganzy. Adding to the complications is the fact that Blackwell is actually in league with the gangsters. The finale involves nighttime runarounds and a shoot-out in the hotel. During the pitched battle between the rival gangs and the police, Boswell and Ganzy save the jewels, after which Ganzy marries Rebecca, and then gives away Mary at her marriage to Wilbur.
(Cast list as per AFI database)[2]
The film opened at theMayfair Theatre in New York City on December 23, 1930.[5][6]
The film made a profit of $225,000,[4] and would be one of the top two money earners for RKO Radio Pictures in 1930.[4]
In 1958, the film entered thepublic domain in the United States because the claimants did not renew itscopyright registration in the 28th year after publication.[7]