Yes, "There Goes My Heart" is another runaway heiress comedy. While such a plot may seem quickly overdone or worn out by modern viewers who can play one after another on DVD or online, they probably didn't seem too overdone in the 1930s. They then were months and years apart, and during the Great Depression, this fantasy type of comedy romances probably helped people forget for a while the difficult times and enjoy themselves. And, while the general theme was the same, the details of the plots made each story different and entertaining in its own right.
Hal Roach assembled a top cast for one with a rich girl fleeing her grandfather. But it's not for a fling with a disapproved suitor or fortune-hunter. Joan Butterfield just wants to experience life like real people - without all the comforts that wealth provides. And, she finds such. Bill Spencer is a reporter who accidentally discovers her but keeps it under wraps while he writes about her. All the time he is falling for her and she for him. Frederic March and Virginia Bruce play those parts well.
Against Spencer is his editor, Mr. Stevens, played by Eugene Pallette. And, taking Joan in - as Joan Baker, is the good-hearted Peggy O'Brien, played by Patsy Kelly. Her beau is Pennypepper E. Pennypepper, played by Alan Mowbray. They have a living arrangement that's a hoot, with one more person in the picture. Roommate Dorothy Moore, played by Nancy Carroll.
Butterfield is the name of the largest department store chain, and the ladies all work there. Pennypepper is holding down a night job while he takes correspondence courses to become a chiropractor. More of the supporting cast add to the comedy and mayhem in this film. Irving Bacon is the store floor manager and the irate grandfather, Cyrus Butterfield, is played by Claude Gillingwater.
The screenplay is fairly easy and not very complicated. It's peppered with some screwy scenes, such as Peggy holding onto Joan's legs as she is stretched way outside their windows trying to plug their electric cords into a flashing advertising sign. Bill and Joan have a long scenario in an ice-skating rink when another skater, slightly inebriated, frequently runs into them. Then, they get into a musical chairs competition on the ice. These scenes are quite funny as some of skaters take some crashes with chairs. The humor is balanced between situations and dialog. Some of the latter also is quite silly.
Overall this is a very good comedy romance. With a better screenplay, this cast could have made a top comedy. But it's still quite good and entertaining. Here are some favorite lines.
Bill Spencer, "I'll write stories about her if I have to make 'em up. And they'll be the truth too."
Mr. Stevens, "See here, Spencer. You have to give me more respect, or better copy." Bill Spencer, "Okay, boss, I'll give you better copy."
Joan Butterfield, as Joan Baker, "Oh, look, where's your canary?" Peggy O'Brien, "Oh, uh, Penny gave me the cage for my birthday last year. This year I get the bird."
Joan Baker (Butterfield), "Is this your furniture?" Peggy, "Oh, no, just the coat hangers."
Joan Baker, "Oh, Bill, how can you talk like that. I've got my heart and soul in this stew." Bill Spencer, "You better put a piece of meat in there too."
Bill Spencer, "I wonder why they don't build roofs on the ground floor." Joan Baker, "Then you'd have to climb downstairs to get up." Bill, "Oh, I knew I shouldn't have asked you that."
Bill Spencer, "You're not proposing to me, are you?" Joan Baker (Butterfield), "Who, me? Of course not. It wouldn't be manly."
Bill Spencer, "Either you're a pretty swell girl, or I'm an awful chump." Joan Baker, "You're an awful chump."
Mr. Dobbs, the floor manager, "Dorothy, think of me." Dorothy Moore, "I am thinking of you and my mind's a blank."
Joan Baker/Butterfield, "I'm worried about Bill. How do you supposed he'll feel when he finds out about all this?" Peggy, "Well, if he really loves you, your being rich won't make him think any of the less of you."
Bill Spencer, "I still can't understand how... a girl who's been used to so much can be satisfied with so little." Joan, "Well, it was having so much that made me realize how little I really had. I'll never go back to having so little again as long as I live." Bill, "And here I always thought I was a pretty smart fella. If I ever had anybody figured wrong, it was you."
Bill, "Joan, remind me to tell you that..." Joan, "What?" Bill, "I think you're swell." Joan, "Oh, Bill. You're an awful chump". Bill, "Nobody every called me chump twice in...." (they kiss).
Hal Roach assembled a top cast for one with a rich girl fleeing her grandfather. But it's not for a fling with a disapproved suitor or fortune-hunter. Joan Butterfield just wants to experience life like real people - without all the comforts that wealth provides. And, she finds such. Bill Spencer is a reporter who accidentally discovers her but keeps it under wraps while he writes about her. All the time he is falling for her and she for him. Frederic March and Virginia Bruce play those parts well.
Against Spencer is his editor, Mr. Stevens, played by Eugene Pallette. And, taking Joan in - as Joan Baker, is the good-hearted Peggy O'Brien, played by Patsy Kelly. Her beau is Pennypepper E. Pennypepper, played by Alan Mowbray. They have a living arrangement that's a hoot, with one more person in the picture. Roommate Dorothy Moore, played by Nancy Carroll.
Butterfield is the name of the largest department store chain, and the ladies all work there. Pennypepper is holding down a night job while he takes correspondence courses to become a chiropractor. More of the supporting cast add to the comedy and mayhem in this film. Irving Bacon is the store floor manager and the irate grandfather, Cyrus Butterfield, is played by Claude Gillingwater.
The screenplay is fairly easy and not very complicated. It's peppered with some screwy scenes, such as Peggy holding onto Joan's legs as she is stretched way outside their windows trying to plug their electric cords into a flashing advertising sign. Bill and Joan have a long scenario in an ice-skating rink when another skater, slightly inebriated, frequently runs into them. Then, they get into a musical chairs competition on the ice. These scenes are quite funny as some of skaters take some crashes with chairs. The humor is balanced between situations and dialog. Some of the latter also is quite silly.
Overall this is a very good comedy romance. With a better screenplay, this cast could have made a top comedy. But it's still quite good and entertaining. Here are some favorite lines.
Bill Spencer, "I'll write stories about her if I have to make 'em up. And they'll be the truth too."
Mr. Stevens, "See here, Spencer. You have to give me more respect, or better copy." Bill Spencer, "Okay, boss, I'll give you better copy."
Joan Butterfield, as Joan Baker, "Oh, look, where's your canary?" Peggy O'Brien, "Oh, uh, Penny gave me the cage for my birthday last year. This year I get the bird."
Joan Baker (Butterfield), "Is this your furniture?" Peggy, "Oh, no, just the coat hangers."
Joan Baker, "Oh, Bill, how can you talk like that. I've got my heart and soul in this stew." Bill Spencer, "You better put a piece of meat in there too."
Bill Spencer, "I wonder why they don't build roofs on the ground floor." Joan Baker, "Then you'd have to climb downstairs to get up." Bill, "Oh, I knew I shouldn't have asked you that."
Bill Spencer, "You're not proposing to me, are you?" Joan Baker (Butterfield), "Who, me? Of course not. It wouldn't be manly."
Bill Spencer, "Either you're a pretty swell girl, or I'm an awful chump." Joan Baker, "You're an awful chump."
Mr. Dobbs, the floor manager, "Dorothy, think of me." Dorothy Moore, "I am thinking of you and my mind's a blank."
Joan Baker/Butterfield, "I'm worried about Bill. How do you supposed he'll feel when he finds out about all this?" Peggy, "Well, if he really loves you, your being rich won't make him think any of the less of you."
Bill Spencer, "I still can't understand how... a girl who's been used to so much can be satisfied with so little." Joan, "Well, it was having so much that made me realize how little I really had. I'll never go back to having so little again as long as I live." Bill, "And here I always thought I was a pretty smart fella. If I ever had anybody figured wrong, it was you."
Bill, "Joan, remind me to tell you that..." Joan, "What?" Bill, "I think you're swell." Joan, "Oh, Bill. You're an awful chump". Bill, "Nobody every called me chump twice in...." (they kiss).