Little Johnny Jones is a 1929 American sound (All-Talking) black-and-white musical film released in the United States adapted from the musical play of the same name. The film was directed by Mervyn LeRoy, who had acted in the 1923 silent version, and main character Johnny Jones was played by Edward Buzzell. The film is best known for its two Broadway classic songs from the play, "Give My Regards to Broadway" and "The Yankee Doodle Boy".
Johnny Jones (Edward Buzzell) is a talented young jockey who rides Yankee, the beloved racehorse of Ed Baker (Robert Edeson), to victory at the Meadowbrook race. This win attracts the attention of Sam Johnson, the biggest stable owner in the country, who takes Johnny to New York to compete at the highest level. Johnny is deeply in love with Mary Baker (Alice Day), Ed's daughter, and promises her he will remain faithful. However, upon finding success in New York, Johnny becomes enchanted with the nightlife and Broadway, especially the glamorous actress Vivian Dale (Edna Murphy). Johnny frequently visits nightclubs with Vivian, charming audiences with his singingâÂÂmost notably the song âÂÂIâÂÂm a Yankee Doodle Dandy.â A stage producer is so impressed he offers Johnny a career on stage, but Johnny chooses to continue racing.
Mary and her father Ed Baker arrive in New York to enter Yankee in an important race, with Johnny slated to ride. Though excited, Johnny is uneasy about telling Mary about Vivian. Mary accepts the truth with grace, but Vivian pressures Johnny to throw the race. Johnny refuses, yet when Yankee loses due to suspicious circumstances and a telegram from Vivian surfaces, Johnny is accused of deliberately throwing the race. Ed Baker struggles to believe Johnny's innocence, but Mary stands by him.
Vivian then coldly ends her relationship with Johnny, confessing she never truly loved him. Barred from American tracks for a year, Johnny relocates to England and works in a Limehouse pub, dreaming of racing at the English Derby at Epsom Downs. By chance, Johnny reunites with Yankee at the English course, and Ed Baker arrives, glad to see him. Johnny convinces Ed to let him ride Yankee in a surprise race for Mary's sake. Johnny wins the Derby, rekindles Mary's love, and the couple returns to America as husband and wife.
Four songs were especially written for the film: âÂÂStraight, Place and Showâ composed by M.K. Jerome and Herman Ruby; âÂÂGo Find Somebody to Loveâ and âÂÂShe Was Kicked on the Head by a Butterflyâ composed by Ned Washington, Herb Magidson, and Michael Cleary; âÂÂMy Paradiseâ composed by Herb Magidson, James Cavanaugh, Ned Washington, and Michael Cleary. In addition, Eddie Buzzell sings some old George M. Cohan songs, namely, "The Yankee Doodle Boy" and "Give My Regards to Broadway."
"Go Find Somebody to Love" was sung in the 1930 Vitaphone Varieties short "Bubbles".
In 2004, the American Film Institute nominated the song "Give My Regards to Broadway" from this film for AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs.