Limelight

Limelight is a 1936 British musical film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Arthur Tracy, Anna Neagle and Jane Winton. It was released in the U.S. as Backstage. Plot When chorus girl Marjorie (Anna Neagle) discovers singer Bob (Arthur Tracy) busking in the streets, and the star of her show falls ill, she persuades her producer to give him a break. Sure enough, Bob becomes an overnight sensation, but success unfortunately goes to his head. Cast Arthur Tracy as Bob Grant Anna Neagle as Marjorie Kaye Jane Winton as Ray Madison Ellis Jeffreys as Lady Madeleine Muriel George as Mrs. Kaye Alexander Field as Alf Sparks Anthony Holles as Impresario William Freshman as Joe Helena Pickard as Pixie Queenie Leonard as Queenie Ralph Reader as Ralph Tilly Losch as Dancer W. MacQueen Pope as Press Representative Ronald Shiner as Asst. Stage Manager Andreas Malandrinos as Singer Production The film was the first made by Wilcox's independent production company, Herbert Wilcox Productions, at his Elstree Studios. It was distributed by J. Arthur Rank's newly formed General Film Distributors, ending a previous arrangement Wilcox had with United Artists. The story was based on Anna Neagle's "discovery" by Wilcox when singing in a show with Jack Buchanan' Buchanan agreed to play a role based on himself. The film was known as Street Singer's Serenade.