Phil Harris – Phil The Movie Star. ep100, 490424

Phil Harris and Alice Faye, a famous American couple in the entertainment industry, posing for a photograph

The movie studios are trying to convince Alice Faye that she should return to making movies. To win her back, they decide to offer Phil a small role in their proposed film. In the harris home, Phil expresses his desire to prevent Alice from returning to work. Though Willie thinks he’s being unreasonable, Alice sticks by her man and agrees not to consider the part.

When Phil learns of his offer from the studio execs to be in the film, he is flattered, but misunderstands the importance of his role and Alice’s. Alice flubs a line as she demands to know what Phil’s phone call was about, and Phil ad libs a few responces to her. Ever the pro, Phil loses his place, but eventually they get caught up with the script.

Though Alice and Willie can see what the studio is up to, Phil is blinded to his small part. Frankie comes over and Alice tells him about the proposed scheme of the studio. Alice wants Frankie to help talk Phil out of accepting the role. She doesn’t want Phils feelings hurt when he learns of the ego deflating small part.

Frankie lays on the act thick about the disadvantages of being in films, even to the annoyance of Alice. Will Julius be able to do something to change Phils mind? He’s certainly a good choice to add to the insults. Phil has his sights set on leaving comedy behind and becoming a dramatic actor as he sets off to leave for the studio.

Alice decides to pull some strings and sabotage Phils screen test. Julius is thrilled with the idea of Alice returning to films and asks her to sing, Rosie Yu Are My Posey.

Frankie accompanies Alice and Phil to the studiol. Frankie sets about insulting everybody at the studio, while the execs fawn over Alice, and do their best to ignore Phil. Even Frankie gets in on the screen test as Phil is set up for his sabotaged test. The scene is to be one where Frankie is making love to Alice, and Phil enters in a jealous rage. It somehow doesn’t work out that way, as Frankie is enjoying his part way too much. Can you blame him? Even the alternate scene is a set up for discouragement for Phil.

In parting, Phil’s words of rejection to the studio mirrors Alice’s real life opinion of her former bosses, the reason she walked off the set, and away from her acting career. Never to return until the early 1960’s although she did make countless TV appearance from the 1950’s through the 1980’s and maybe even a few after that time.