Paddy O'Day (1936)

Interesting facts

Paddy O'Day is a 1936 American comedy drama film directed by Lewis Seiler and released by 20th Century Fox. It stars Jane Withers, Pinky Tomlin, and Rita Hayworth. The story follows the adventures of a plucky Irish girl who arrives at Ellis Island only to discover that her mother, a cook in a wealthy Long Island home, has died. Hiding from the immigration officers who want to deport her, she charms everyone she meets, including the service staff and reclusive young master of the house. She goes to live with a family of Russian dancers that she met on the ship, and performs with them in their nightclub.

Production

The film's working titles were The Immigrant, Immigrants, and The Little Immigrant. Fox executives originally intended this film to be a remake of the studio's 1931 film Delicious, although not many similarities remain.

Withers was making four or five films a year for Fox since her breakout role in the 1934 Shirley Temple vehicle Bright Eyes. However, before Paddy O'Day was released, she informed the studio that she would not continue to work unless her weekly salary was raised from $150 to $1,000. Fox complied with this demand. Withers showed off her talent for accents in the film, singing one song with an Irish accent and another song with a Russian accent.

Sixteen-year-old Rita Hayworth was credited as Rita Cansino in this, her fourth screen appearance. Her stage name would be changed to Rita Hayworth the following year. Hayworth performed her own dances in the film; her singing voice may or may not have been dubbed.

Several original songs were composed for the film. They including "Keep That Twinkle in Your Eye" and "I Like a Balalaika", both with lyrics by Edward Eliscu and music by Harry Akst. "Changing My Ambitions", with lyrics and music by Pinky Tomlin and Coy Poe, was sung by Tomlin in the film.

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