Talent Scout (1937)

Fast talking talent scout Steve Stewart discovers singer Mary Brannigan while he is on a publicity tour with a busload of chorus girls. Apex Pictures boss A.J. Lambert is not eager to listen to her because Steve's publicity tour cost his studio too much money. Nonetheless, Steve brings her back to Hollywood with him, determined to make her a star. Left on her own in the studio commissary while Steve talks with Lambert, Mary meets actors Bernice Fox and Raymond Crane. Not recognizing Raymond, the studio's big star, Mary insults him, and he leaves angrily with Bernice. Steve manages to get Lambert to agree to a screen test for Mary, but her nervousness spoils her chances. Lambert hates her and once again throws Steve off the lot. Bringing the bad news to Mary, Steve hears her singing a beautiful song. Realizing that he can still make her a star, he changes her name to Doris Pierce, dresses her in a beautiful gown and takes her to a benefit where many of Hollywood's most important people will be in attendance. Because some of the celebrities scheduled to perform have not appeared, Steve arranges for Mary to sing, using her new name of Doris. Raymond, who is the master of ceremonies, is rude to her but after he hears her sing, changes his mind and joins her at her table. Steve spots M.B. Carter, the other executive of Ajax Pictures, in the audience and soon has his name on a contract for Mary. When Lambert first realizes that their new star is the same woman who made the bad screen test, he faints, but later is delighted by her successful series of movies with Raymond. Soon she and Raymond are in love both off the screen and on, to the despair of Bernice. Unaware that Mary is really in love with Raymond, Steve tells Bernice that he intends to marry Mary. Bernice tells Raymond about Steve's plans, and misunderstanding, Raymond breaks up with Mary. She is not enough of an actress to put aside her broken heart for the good of a movie, and Lambert is about to fire her when Steve intervenes. Giving up his romantic hopes because he understands that Mary really loves Raymond, he has a special song of apology written for the two stars. As they sing it to each other, they take the words to heart and afterward mend their engagement.