Hitting a New High (1937) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

An opera singer and a publicity agent build an absurd false identity that expands through ambition, blackmail, exposure, and collective performance.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Singer Without a Stage

Corny searches for a new opportunity while Suzette breaks with Jimmy over the direction of her singing career. Their encounter gives Corny the chance to turn her talents into a publicity spectacle.

Key Events

• Corny Seeks New Work — Corny Davis, a press agent, looks for new employment after repeated professional embarrassment. Characters: Corny Davis Location: Paris
• Suzette Leaves Jimmy — Suzette angrily rejects Jimmy's demand that she replace opera with cabaret and walks away. Characters: Suzette, Jimmy James Location: Paris entertainment district
• Corny Approaches Suzette — Corny waits for Suzette and proposes a new professional opportunity. Characters: Corny Davis, Suzette Location: Paris street
• Bird-Girl Plan Begins — Corny and Suzette develop a plan to present an opera singer as a wild bird-raised woman. Characters: Corny Davis, Suzette Location: French Congo

The Bird-Girl Hoax

Corny and Suzette stage her discovery in the French Congo and present her as Oogahunga, a singer raised among birds. The false story gains credibility and is promoted toward New York.

Key Events

• Bird-Girl Plan Begins — Corny and Suzette develop a plan to present an opera singer as a wild bird-raised woman. Characters: Corny Davis, Suzette Location: French Congo
• Wild Singing Discovery — Suzette sings in the wilderness while Corny stages her discovery as Oogahunga. Characters: Corny Davis, Suzette Location: French Congo wilderness
• Caged Bird-Girl Display — Suzette is placed in a wooden cage while Corny claims he will teach her to speak. Characters: Corny Davis, Suzette Location: French Congo camp
• The Deception Gains Belief — The fabricated Bird-Girl story is accepted, allowing Corny and Suzette to continue the charade. Characters: Corny Davis, Suzette Location: French Congo camp
• Telegrammed Discovery — News of the supposed discovery is sent to New York while the conspirators plan their next steps. Characters: Corny Davis, Suzette Location: French Congo camp

Fame Under Pressure

Suzette's radio debut makes the deception more public, but Jimmy recognizes her voice and tracks her down. Corny converts the confrontation into a secrecy agreement involving performances for both men.

Key Events

• Radio Debut — Suzette makes her inaugural radio appearance as Oogahunga while Corny promotes the spectacle. Characters: Corny Davis, Suzette Location: New York City radio studio
• Jimmy Recognizes Suzette — Jimmy hears Suzette sing the disputed song and immediately recognizes her voice. Characters: Suzette, Jimmy James Location: New York City
• Jimmy Enters the Office — Jimmy confronts Corny in the office, but Corny ejects him from the premises. Characters: Corny Davis, Jimmy James Location: New York City office
• Upstairs Piano Discovery — Jimmy climbs the wall and finds Suzette upstairs playing piano and singing. Characters: Suzette, Jimmy James, Corny Davis Location: New York City office building
• Silence-for-Shows Deal — Corny and Jimmy agree that Suzette will perform for both while Jimmy keeps the scheme secret. Characters: Corny Davis, Suzette, Jimmy James Location: New York City office building

The Blackmail Parade

Cedric overhears the scheme and tries to monetize his knowledge. He creates an explorer persona and claims to be Oogahunga's father, causing the deception and its financial demands to multiply.

Key Events

• Backstage Scheme Overheard — Cedric overhears Corny, Jimmy, and Suzette discussing the entire Bird-Girl fraud. Characters: Corny Davis, Suzette, Jimmy James, Cedric Cosmo Location: Cabaret backstage
• Cedric Demands Hush Money — Cedric asks Jimmy for hush money after learning the truth, but Jimmy refuses to pay. Characters: Cedric Cosmo, Jimmy James Location: Cabaret backstage
• False Explorer Appears — Cedric adopts an explorer persona and tells an elaborate story about surviving a shipwreck in Africa. Characters: Cedric Cosmo, Corny Davis Location: New York City office
• False Father Reunion — Cedric claims to be Oogahunga's father, and the deception is accepted as a reunion with Suzette's supposed identity. Characters: Cedric Cosmo, Suzette, Corny Davis Location: New York City office
• Blackmail Escalates — Cedric privately makes blackmail demands of Corny, increasing the pressure around the fraudulent publicity campaign. Characters: Cedric Cosmo, Corny Davis Location: Private room

Everyone Joins the Song

A rival recognizes Suzette, and the nightclub performance finally exposes the fraud. Anger gives way to music as the band, the conspirators, and the audience join a closing singalong.

Key Events

• Rival Recognizes Suzette — An unnamed rival recognizes Suzette during an Oogahunga performance and demands a share of the blackmail money. Characters: Suzette, Corny Davis Location: Cabaret performance
• Nightclub Exposure — The identities and scheme are exposed when Suzette sings cabaret and Cedric plays clarinet in Jimmy's band. Characters: Suzette, Corny Davis, Jimmy James, Cedric Cosmo Location: Nightclub
• Blynn's Fury — The deception is explained, and the deceived entertainment figure erupts in fury before storming away. Characters: Corny Davis, Suzette Location: Nightclub
• Bandwide Singalong — Cedric plays, the band joins, and Corny, Suzette, and the audience turn the collapse into a drunken singalong. Characters: Corny Davis, Suzette, Jimmy James, Cedric Cosmo Location: Nightclub

Story Breakdown

• Corny's Career Crisis — Corny needs new work and finds an opportunity in Suzette's conflict with Jimmy.
  • Searching For Work — Corny looks for a new professional opportunity after repeated embarrassment.
  • Suzette Walks Out — Suzette leaves Jimmy after rejecting his attempt to redirect her toward cabaret.
• The Singer's Reinvention — Corny transforms Suzette from an opera singer into a supposedly wild Bird-Girl.
  • French Congo Scheme — Corny and Suzette design the false wilderness identity.
  • Caged Bird-Girl — Suzette is displayed in a wooden cage while Corny claims to teach her speech.
• Publicity Takes Flight — The invented discovery becomes a public success through promotion and radio.
  • Telegrammed Discovery — The supposed find is announced to New York through telegrams.
  • Radio Debut — Suzette performs publicly as Oogahunga during her inaugural broadcast.
• Jimmy's Recognition — Jimmy identifies Suzette and pressures the conspirators into sharing the commercial opportunity.
  • Voice Reveals Truth — Jimmy recognizes Suzette when he hears her sing the disputed song.
  • Silence For Shows — Corny arranges for Suzette to perform for Jimmy in exchange for secrecy.
• Cedric's Blackmail — Cedric overhears the fraud and creates a second deception to obtain money.
  • Backstage Discovery — Cedric hears the conspirators explain the entire scam backstage.
  • False Explorer — Cedric adopts an explorer identity and claims to be Oogahunga's father.
• The Hoax Collapses — Recognition, blackmail, and a nightclub confrontation bring the entire performance to an end.
  • Rival Demands Money — A rival recognizes Suzette and demands a share of the blackmail payments.
  • Nightclub Exposure — The truth is explained after Suzette sings and Cedric plays with Jimmy's band.
• Musical Resolution — The final anger dissolves into a comic communal performance.
  • Blynn Storms Away — The deceived figure erupts in fury and leaves the nightclub.
  • Audience Singalong — The band, Corny, Suzette, and the audience join the closing song.

Directed by

Raoul Walsh

Key Cast

• Lily Pons — Suzette
• Jack Oakie — Corny Davis
• Edward Everett Horton — Lucius B. Blynn
• John Howard — Jimmy James
• Eric Blore — Cedric Cosmo