Have a Heart (1934)

Jean Parker plays Sally Moore, a young dancer and instructor of children in her craft amid the theaters off Broadway in New York City. She's engaged to marry Joe Lacy (Paul Page). On the night before their wedding, their friends, including her roommate Joan (Una Merkel) and her boyfriend Gus (Stuart Erwin), throw a big party for them in the apartment that the girls share. Joe chases Jean around the apartment with a photographer trying to have a picture taken of them for the newspaper. Jean is resisting because she says it's bad luck to photograph the bride in her wedding dress before the wedding. When she runs out on the fire escape, it collapses and she falls several floors to the street below.Later at a hospital, Dr. Spear (Samuel Hinds) tells Jean that she'll have to wear a special shoe for the rest of her life because there is nothing more he can do for her. When she presses him, he admits that there is a doctor overseas who could operate on her so that she could dance again, but her financial situation makes that option impossible. Though Joe has paid for all her health-care, he also makes it clear that he no longer wants to be with Jean, even though he'll "go through with it" (their wedding) if she insists. She tearfully relieves him of his obligation and Joan makes him feel like the heel he is as he departs. Jean has learned a doll making & repairing skill while in the hospital which will provide her a means to make a living.Joan is a supportive roommate and friend whose boyfriend Gus is a schemer that's constantly trying to find an easy way to make money. She tries to get Jean to date again and "forces" her to accept an invitation from the local "Have a Heart" ice cream vendor Jimmie Flaherty (James Dunn), who so far doesn't know about Jean's condition. Jimmie is a nice Irishman, though he does have a tendency to let his temper get the best of him, causing him to be somewhat volatile in situations which get his dander up. For instance, he punches out a beer man who kicks Jean's dog after the dog had caused him to spill his load. However, Jimmie has impressed his boss Mr. Schauber (Willard Robertson) into promoting him to a management position. This happens on the same day on which he's made a date with Jean, who also finds out on that same day that the European doctor who can fix her leg is coming to America. Dr. Spear tells Jean and Joan that they'll need only $500 for hospital expenses to correct her handicap. Joan tells Jean that between them, and some money Gus has, they have enough for the operation.In order to take Jean out on the date, Jimmie gets a co-worker (Edward Brophy, uncredited) to lend him the keys to company car, a convertible. Joan provides Jean with galoshes to hide her unsightly shoe (and condition) from Jimmie and she successfully avoids dancing with him that night, on which they both fall in love for one another. However, when Jimmie returns the car to the garage, he discovers that Jean's dog is hiding in the back seat; it barks and alerts the night watchman. Jimmie retrieves the dog and tries to elude the night watchman by hiding in an office, which unbeknownst to him is being burglarized. While pursuing Jimmie, the night watchman is knocked out by a white shoed burglar, who is attacked by Jean's dog such that Jimmie notices a silver dollar tattoo on the back of the right hand of the man he assumed was the night watchman. So, he successfully escapes with the dog, unaware of the burglary.When returning the dog to Jean, Jimmie discovers her condition but vows his true love for her regardless of her condition. For some reason, Jean never tells Jimmie about her pending operation. The night watchman was able to identify Jimmie and, unable to convince Mr. Schauber of his innocence, he is arrested for stealing $400. Convinced of his innocence and out of her love for Jimmie, Jean takes her operation money to Schauber to ask that he have the charges against her boyfriend dropped such that he can be released. Even though Schauber agrees to her confidentiality agreement (she doesn't want Jimmie to know that she's bailed him out), Schauber's secretary (Muriel Evans) spills the beans to Jimmie, jealously telling him that Jean didn't even believe he was innocent. So, the volatile Jimmie breaks his relationship with Jean, vowing to repay the debt, and leaves on a ship to earn the dough.The rest of the film involves Joan finally agreeing to try one of Gus's get rich quick schemes so that they can raise the money for Jean's operation while the European doctor is still in the U.S., with comical results ... and, of course, the requisite Hollywood happy ending for all. Directed and co-written by David Butler.

A crippled dancer and a brash ice cream man show they HAVE A HEART when they become the answer to the other's romantic dreams.This unfortunately obscure little film starts off as a lively comedy, but quickly takes a turn into very serious drama before finally settling into its final shape as a gentle love story -- with a bit of crime action thrown into the mix. The movie will be more than acceptable to those viewers looking for a soap opera with a bit of a punch.Jean Parker is terrific as the valiant young lady whose life is changed forever as the result of a terrible fall. Love finds her in the unexpected form of James Dunn, very good as the quick tempered but good natured fellow who woos her without knowing of her disability. They make a fine on-screen team, each character filling the void in the other's life.Pretty Una Merkel, the Southern belle whose prickly presence perked up many a film project in the 1930's, shines as Parker's tart-tongued friend. Laid-back Stuart Erwin is funny as her card-cheating boyfriend. Samuel S. Hinds plays Miss Parker's kindly doctor.Movie mavens will recognize an uncredited Edward Brophy as Dunn's pal at the ice cream factory.

This is a romantic comedy that is funny in parts, but the romance story does not hold up well. Jean Parker plays a young woman who has an accident which causes her fiance to run out on her. James Dunn is the hero who woos her next and is not turned off by her "handicap" (according to the film). A very busy plot that was too melodramatic to hold my interest all that well. Una Merkel (fast-talking cynical dame) and Stu Erwin (country bumpkin oaf) are the comic relief, and they are as good as ever. But otherwise poor acting. Still, well worth seeing once - I caught it on TCM.

Thanks to Turner Classic Movies I saw this film today. Una Merkel is billed below Jean Parker, but of course she steal the show without even trying. She's just that kind of actress. Jean Parker plays her younger sister and they sound amazingly alike in accent and inflection. I checked on IMDb to see if they were really sisters. They are not. Good performances by everyone, including James Dunn as Jean's Love Interest and Stuart Erwin, who, along with Una, have the best lines in every scene. Besides the credited actors, the movie is full of great supporting actors you'll instantly recognize: Edward Brophy, Tom Dugan, and Pat Flaherty, among others.