Burning Up Broadway (1928) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A romantic investigation at a New York speakeasy becomes an undercover revenue raid against bootleggers.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Visit To The Speakeasy

Harry Wells brings his friend Bob Travers to the New York speakeasy. Travers becomes attracted to Floss, while Spike's own interest creates tension.

Key Events

• New York Speakeasy — Spike and Nick operate the speakeasy, with Floss as its chief chorus girl. Characters: Spike, Nick, Floss Location: New York speakeasy
• Wells Welcomes Travers — Native New Yorker Wells receives his friend Travers from out west. Characters: Harry Wells, Bob Travers Location: New York
• Visit To The Club — Wells takes Travers to the club and introduces him to its atmosphere. Characters: Harry Wells, Bob Travers, Spike, Nick, Floss Location: New York speakeasy
• Travers Meets Floss — Travers becomes entranced with Floss at the club. Characters: Bob Travers, Floss Location: New York speakeasy
• Spike's Jealousy — Travers's interest in Floss becomes an issue for Spike. Characters: Spike, Bob Travers, Floss Location: New York speakeasy

Secrets Behind The Club

Travers returns to the club and investigates Floss and its owners. He discovers that Spike and Nick are bootleggers, turning his romantic visit into a dangerous inquiry.

Key Events

• Spike's Jealousy — Travers's interest in Floss becomes an issue for Spike. Characters: Spike, Bob Travers, Floss Location: New York speakeasy
• Return To The Club — Travers returns the following night and encounters Wells at the club. Characters: Bob Travers, Harry Wells, Floss, Spike, Nick Location: New York speakeasy
• Travers Investigates Floss — Travers tries to find out more about Floss. Characters: Bob Travers, Floss Location: New York speakeasy
• Owners Are Bootleggers — Travers discovers that Spike and Nick own the club and are bootleggers. Characters: Bob Travers, Spike, Nick Location: New York speakeasy
• Snooping Discovered — Spike and Nick discover Travers snooping around their operation. Characters: Bob Travers, Spike, Nick Location: New York speakeasy

The Abduction

Spike and Nick catch Travers snooping and knock him out. They take Floss with them while leaving to receive their next bootleg liquor shipment.

Key Events

• Snooping Discovered — Spike and Nick discover Travers snooping around their operation. Characters: Bob Travers, Spike, Nick Location: New York speakeasy
• Travers Knocked Out — Spike and Nick knock Travers out to stop his investigation. Characters: Bob Travers, Spike, Nick Location: New York speakeasy
• Floss Is Taken — Spike and Nick take Floss with them to receive liquor. Characters: Floss, Spike, Nick Location: New York speakeasy
• Wells Finds Travers — Wells discovers Travers and revives him after the assault. Characters: Harry Wells, Bob Travers Location: New York speakeasy

Agents In Pursuit

Wells revives Travers and reveals that he is a revenue agent. Travers is also revealed as an agent, and the two join the other agents to track the shipment.

Key Events

• Wells Finds Travers — Wells discovers Travers and revives him after the assault. Characters: Harry Wells, Bob Travers Location: New York speakeasy
• Wells Reveals His Badge — Wells reveals that he is a revenue agent. Characters: Harry Wells, Bob Travers Location: New York
• Travers Reveals His Role — Travers is revealed to be a revenue agent as well. Characters: Bob Travers, Harry Wells Location: New York
• Agents Form A Team — Wells and Travers join the other agents to pursue the bootleggers. Characters: Harry Wells, Bob Travers Location: New York
• Tracking The Shipment — The revenue agents track Spike and Nick to the shipment drop-off. Characters: Harry Wells, Bob Travers, Spike, Nick, Floss Location: Route to liquor shipment drop-off

The Shipment Raid

The agents reach the liquor shipment drop-off point and rescue Floss. Her undercover revenue-agent identity is revealed, and Spike and Nick are arrested.

Key Events

• Tracking The Shipment — The revenue agents track Spike and Nick to the shipment drop-off. Characters: Harry Wells, Bob Travers, Spike, Nick, Floss Location: Route to liquor shipment drop-off
• Shipment Drop-Off — Spike and Nick arrive with Floss to receive the liquor shipment. Characters: Spike, Nick, Floss Location: Liquor shipment drop-off point
• Floss Is An Agent — Floss is revealed as another revenue agent working undercover. Characters: Floss, Harry Wells, Bob Travers, Spike, Nick Location: Liquor shipment drop-off point
• Agents Rescue Floss — Wells, Travers, and the agents rescue Floss from the bootleggers. Characters: Floss, Harry Wells, Bob Travers, Spike, Nick Location: Liquor shipment drop-off point
• Bootleggers Arrested — Revenue agents arrest Spike and Nick after the raid. Characters: Harry Wells, Bob Travers, Floss, Spike, Nick Location: Liquor shipment drop-off point
• Travers And Floss Together — Travers and Floss are free to continue their romance. Characters: Bob Travers, Floss Location: New York

Story Breakdown

• Speakeasy Setup — The New York club and its central relationships are introduced.
  • Club Ownership — Spike and Nick operate the speakeasy together.
  • Wells Welcomes Travers — Wells receives his visiting friend from out west.
• Romantic Attraction — Travers becomes interested in Floss while Spike also desires her.
  • Travers Meets Floss — Travers becomes entranced with the chief chorus girl.
  • Spike Grows Jealous — The competing attraction creates tension at the club.
• Criminal Discovery — Travers investigates the club and uncovers its illegal operation.
  • Return To Club — Travers goes back the following night and encounters Wells.
  • Bootlegging Exposed — Travers learns that Spike and Nick are bootleggers.
• Violent Abduction — The bootleggers respond to Travers's investigation by using force.
  • Travers Knocked Out — Spike and Nick attack Travers after catching him snooping.
  • Floss Taken Away — The bootleggers take Floss to the liquor shipment.
• Hidden Agents — The apparent romantic visitors are revealed to be revenue agents.
  • Wells Reveals Role — Wells revives Travers and identifies himself as an agent.
  • Travers Joins Wells — Travers is revealed as another revenue agent.
• Shipment Raid — The agents pursue the bootleggers and resolve the criminal and romantic conflicts.
  • Floss Revealed — Floss is exposed as an undercover revenue agent.
  • Arrests And Romance — The agents arrest Spike and Nick, leaving Travers and Floss free to continue their romance.

Directed by

Phil Rosen

Key Cast

• Helene Costello — Floss
• Robert Frazer — Bob Travers
• Sam Hardy — Spike
• Ernest Hilliard — Harry Wells
• Max Asher — Nick