International House (1933)

In the remote, bustling city of Wu-Hu, China, the world converges at the International House Hotel. The reason: Professor Wong, a brilliant Chinese scientist, has unveiled an unprecedented invention - the television. Representatives from nations around the globe gather in breathless anticipation, each eager to secure the rights to this groundbreaking device, which brings a cornucopia of comedy and musical acts from old-time radio vividly to life through the "radioscope". Among the throng is Tommy Nash, an American fraught with a peculiar predicament. Each time he attempts to tie the knot with his fiancée, Carol Fortescue, an untimely illness strikes, perpetually delaying their nuptials. His latest affliction, a baffling rash, leads to a quarantine of the entire hotel, adding a layer of chaos to the already frenzied atmosphere. Meanwhile, the vivacious Peggy, a playgirl always on the move, is skillfully dodging her jealous ex-husband, Petronovich, while setting her sights on the affluent American, Professor Quail. The professor, a man of eccentricity and grandeur, swoops into the whirlwind of events in his auto-gyro, adding a dash of intrigue to the mix. In this exotic melting pot of ambition, romance and comedy, the highlight is undoubtedly a mesmerising performance by Cab Calloway, who sets the scene ablaze with his rendition of "Reefer Man". 'International House' is an uproarious journey through a pivotal moment in history, where love, laughter and music dance merrily around the dawn of a new technological era.

International House is a comedy movie featuring Sterling Holloway.

International House is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.