CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Grimossfer Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

Fairaher The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

wes-connors Financial wizard Leslie Howard (as Atterbury Dodd) is sent by New York bankers to save Hollywood's "Colossal" film studio, which is going bankrupt. Arriving in town, Mr. Howard picks up pretty blonde "Stand-In" and former child star Joan Blondell (as Lester Plum), on the corner of Hollywood and Highland. Stroking her tired feet and legs in the limousine, Ms. Blondell gives Howard his first lesson about movie-making. Appalled by the excesses at the studio and the audition of an underdressed Shirley Temple clone, Howard moves into Blondell's more down-to-earth boarding house...On the set, Howard becomes involved with "Sex and Satan" producer Humphrey Bogart (as Doug Quintain) and his amorous star Marla Shelton (as Thelma Cheri). There are obviously problems at the studio for Howard to solve, while dealing with romance. The satire isn't sharp enough, especially as the running time wears on, but "Stand-In" hits the mark fairly often. Given the subject matter, producer Walter Wanger and the studio take the opportunity to draw from a great supporting cast of character actors, former stars and bit players. This makes for many good moments.****** Stand-In (10/29/37) Tay Garnett ~ Leslie Howard, Joan Blondell, Humphrey Bogart, Marla Shelton

GManfred Often I don't agree with Leonard Maltin, as he obviously doesn't see all the movies in his review books. But here his remarks are spot-on, as "Stand-In' does, indeed, tail off into disappointment in the second half. Naturally, viewers want to see Humphrey Bogart do comedy, but he's not really funny here. He's surrounded by some people who are pretty good at it, mainly Leslie Howard and Joan Blondell, but when Bogie's on screen he's usually teed off or griping about something, so this picture is not a good test of his comedic instincts.The picture hums along and is reasonably funny and entertaining, but the screenwriters have ace accountant Leslie Howard 'see the light', and the end of the film descends into confusion and a hastily contrived ending, with Howard doing a Spartacus turn and leading the workers in revolt. Not funny, and very unsatisfying. "Stand-In" is a curiosity that doesn't really need to be seen, except that it's billed as a comedy that Bogart is in.

Jessica-656 This is a satire on big business types who let a perfectly viable business (in this case, a film studio) fail for their own profit, leaving all the "little people" in the lurch. The words "capital" and "labor" even get bandied around! A few years ago modern viewers might have found this boring, but with today's economy, people may find that they can relate to it better than they expected! Besides that, it's an interesting "behind the camera" look at Hollywood, 1930s style.Leslie Howard is great as the sheltered accountant who comes to Hollywood to see what's up with his bank's film studio, Joan Blondell is also great in her usual breezy, funny style as the former child star now working as a stand-in for a famous actress. There's also a youngish Humphrey Bogart as a film producer. I really wonder if Howard and Blondell did those ju-jitsu throws themselves, and if those outdoor scenes really were shot in downtown Los Angeles! Quite funny and definitely recommended!

Pimpernel_Smith Worth it for the boarding house and its inmates alone, this is a glorious satire on '30s Hollywood. Leslie Howard is at his comic best (see also 'It's Love I'm After'), vague and unworldly. The supporting cast is excellent. Joan Blondell is gorgeous and *funny*. Humphrey Bogart, Howard's good mate and progege - Howard insisted that Bogart got the convict role in Petrified Forest in the film, having appreciated acting with him in the play, and that was his big break in films. And Bogart acknowledged the friendship by calling his first child Lesley (she was a girl). Alan Mowbray and Jack Conway also add to the fun.A sharp commentary on the wonderful world of B movies!