Out of the Blue is a 1931 British musical film directed by Gene Gerrard and starring Gerrard, Jessie Matthews, and Kay Hammond. Produced by British International Pictures at Elstree Studios near London, its sets were designed by art director David Rawnsley.
This marked Matthews’ first major film role.MacNab p.74 The plot follows a baronet’s daughter who falls in love with a radio star engaged to her sister. Although the film was not a commercial success, it led to Matthews being cast in There Goes the Bride and signing a contract with Gainsborough Pictures. Matthews later reflected in her autobiography that "Out of the Blue was adapted from a stage musical and never should have left the boards." John Orton served as supervising director.
Plot Tommy Tucker (Jessie Matthews), an impoverished aristocrat’s daughter, is in love with radio announcer Bill Coverdale (Gene Gerrard), but he is engaged to her glamorous sister Angela (Kay Hammond), whom he does not love. Seeking a fresh start and an escape from her life of genteel poverty, Tommy leaves for Biarritz to pursue work as a nightclub singer.
Cast Gene Gerrard as Bill Coverdale Jessie Matthews as Tommy Tucker Kay Hammond as Angela Tucker Kenneth Kove as Freddie Binnie Barnes as Rosa David Miller as Sir Jeremy Tucker Fred Groves as Bannister Blair Averil Haley as Judy Blair Hal Gordon as Videlop Gordon Begg as Mumford
Critical reception Both TV Guide and Britmovie described the film as "lightweight."
References
Bibliography MacNab, Geoffrey. Searching for stars: stardom and screen acting in British cinema. Cassell, 2000.
External links