Grumpy (1930 film)

Grumpy
Directed by	George Cukor Cyril Gardner
Written by	Doris Anderson Based on the play by Horace Hodges and Thomas Wigney
Starring	Cyril Maude Frances Dade Paul Lukas
Cinematography	David Abel
Music by	Karl Hajos
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	August 1, 1930 (1930-08-01)
Running time	74 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Grumpy is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Cukor (in his directorial debut) and Cyril Gardner, and released by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay by Doris Anderson is based on a play by Horace Hodges and Thomas Wigney Percyval. A Spanish-language version entitled Cascarrabias, written by Catalan writer Josep Carner Ribalta (1898–1988) and directed by Gardner, was released by Paramount the same year. The film is a remake of a 1923 silent film of the same title.

Plot

The titular character is a temperamental but lovable retired London barrister now living in the country with his granddaughter Virginia. Ernest Heron, Virginia's beau, returns from South Africa with a valuable diamond, and that night he is attacked and the gem is stolen. The only clue to the perpetrator's identity is a camellia Ernest is found clutching in his hand.

Suspicion falls upon Chamberlin Jarvis, an acquaintance of Virginia who was a houseguest at the time, and Grumpy follows him when he returns to the city, where he tries to sell the diamond to Berci. Knowing Jarvis is a suspect, Berci turns him away, and the thief, frightened by a confrontation with Grumpy, eventually returns to the country, returns the jewel, and is arrested.

Cast

• Cyril Maude ..... Grumpy Bullivant
• Phillips Holmes ..... Ernest Heron
• Frances Dade ..... Virginia Bullivant
• Paul Lukas ..... Berci
• Paul Cavanagh ..... Chamberlin Jarvis

Production

The film marked George Cukor's debut as a film director. Exteriors were filmed in Kernville, California. Interiors were filmed at Paramount's Astoria Studios in Queens, New York.

External links

• Grumpy at IMDb
• Cascarrabias at IMDB