Spud Miller runs radio station W.H.Y. with his partner Smiley and two young performers, Dot and Dash, but he is about to lose the station due to lack of funds. Entrepreneurs George and Gracie try to sell Spud the “Radio Eye,” a contraption that picks up broadcasts and events all over the world and projects them on a viewing screen. Spud keeps the machine, planning to use it for his own broadcasts. He also receives his acceptance notice from the International Broadcasting Competition for his station to compete for the best broadcast. Spud’s radio personality attracts Countess Ysobel De Nargila, who goes to the station and discovers that the radio personality known as “Lochinvar,” is actually Spud’s speaking voice and Smiley’s singing voice. Determined to fall in love and marry one of them, Ysobel kidnaps them and takes them south of the border on her yacht to her island country, Clemente. Ysobel’s secretary Sue has fallen in love with Smiley and warns him that Gordoni, the caretaker of Ysobel’s plantation, is dangerously jealous and has killed all of Ysobel’s previous suitors. The next night, Spud and Smiley find out Gordoni plans to kill them at midnight, and they call for help using the Radio Eye. In response, George and Gracie row for Clemente and are rescued by a passing boat. In the meantime, Spud and Smiley frantically try to buy time by broadcasting their story over the Radio Eye and using the images they pick up on the screen to entertain Ysobel so she does not fall asleep, as they are aware that as soon as she falls asleep, Gordoni will attempt to kill them. As they are doing this, the broadcasting competition picks up their transmission and assumes it is their entry in the contest. Midnight strikes, Spud cries for help and a fight ensues. Spud and Smiley take off on a horsedrawn carriage with Gordoni’s men in hot pursuit. The carriage and horses separate, and the carriage stops short of plunging into the ocean just as the U.S. Marines arrive. Spud discovers Gordoni inside the carriage, but Gordoni falls into the ocean. Spud is reunited with Ysobel, and Sue is united with Smiley as they all find out that W. H. Y. won the broadcasting competition. More on Wikipedia or Mubi
Academy Awards, 1936- Nominee: Best Dance Direction
Watch The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935)
