When this story begins, Bill (William Haines) is misbehaving at work as well as sexually harassing one of the customers. Soon he's fired...and he goes to work for the brother of the woman he's been harassing (and will continue to harass throughout the picture). Soon he's the station manager of a struggling radio station...and he hires all sorts of weirdos to be on the air...including a phony psychic (John Miljean). Soon, he is caught up in the world of crime, as the psychic is the leader of a local crime gang. Can Bill manage to escape with his life and/or get the girl to like him?
In nearly all of William Haines' movies, he plays an extremely cocky and self-assured guy. However, here in "Remote Control" he goes much further and his behaviors towards the poor lady are positively boorish and gross...even by 1930's standards. Why MGM usually pushed this image and why the public loved it is beyond me...all I know is that he was tough to take here. What's also tough is the psychic...a broadly written character that is hard to believe. Overall, a very disappointing picture...and Haines is nearly impossible to like!
In nearly all of William Haines' movies, he plays an extremely cocky and self-assured guy. However, here in "Remote Control" he goes much further and his behaviors towards the poor lady are positively boorish and gross...even by 1930's standards. Why MGM usually pushed this image and why the public loved it is beyond me...all I know is that he was tough to take here. What's also tough is the psychic...a broadly written character that is hard to believe. Overall, a very disappointing picture...and Haines is nearly impossible to like!