Original subtitles

NARRATOR: And now,Death Valley Days.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

And I have another interesting true story for you

about the historic Death Valley country.

I'’m sure you'’ve heard of Lady Godiva,

who, according to legend,

rode naked through the streets of Coventry.

The hero of our story tonight is a man,

a young newspaper reporter by the name of Sam Swift.

And the streets are those of a Western city in the early 1900s.

But you'’ll soon see why Sam became known as Mr. Godiva.

Sam...Marjorie, darling.

No, Sam, you shouldn'’t.

You haven'’t received father'’s permission yet.

Sweetheart, all I need is your permission.

No, Sam it'’s-- It'’s not proper.

All right, I'’ll see your father, state my intentions.

MAN: Marjorie!

In here, father. Here'’s your chance.

There'’s no time like the present.

Hello, baby. I brought-- Oh, hello, Swift.

Good afternoon, sir.

You gentlemen know each other?

Mr. Norman Cates of the Sierra National Bank.

Sam Swift. Of the Daily Bulletin.

How do you do?

Oh, Norman, did you drive Father home in your new Pierce-Arrow?

Why, yes, I did.

I'’d love to see it. Will you show it to me?

I'’d be delighted.Excuse us.

Oh, Father, Sam has something to ask you.

Come on, Norman.

I guess you know what I'’m going to say, Mr. Delafield.

I do.

I hope I have your permission, sir.

You don'’t.

I-- I don'’t?

Until I'’m clear on a few points.

What'’re your prospects, Swift?

Of persuading her? Good.

Of supporting her.

Oh, well, I'’ll do my best, sir.

Let'’s see. The newspaper reporting

you make $25 a week, isn'’t it?

$30, sir.

That table you'’re sitting on cost 20 times as much.

Furnishings in this room alone

represent many thousands of dollars,

and there are 19 other rooms in the house.

Well, surely, sir, you don'’t expect a young son-in-law

to provide a set-up like this?No.

But I'’d want the assurance that he could someday.

A fellow like Norman Cates has prospects.

He'’s heading for the presidency of his bank.

Well, if it'’s money you want, I'’ll make it, plenty of it.

That isn'’t as easy as it sounds.I don'’t agree, sir.

Money'’s one of the easiest things in the world to come by.

You started with nothing.

You were a hard rock miner in Virginia City.

I know your whole story.

It'’s on file in the morgue over at the Bulletin.

Apparently you'’re not impressed.

On the contrary.

Just bears out my belief that in this country of ours

all a man needs is a little imagination,

some enterprise, and they can become rich

practically overnight.

It has taken me my entire life to accumulate a fortune.

You have no idea, my boy.Mr. Delafield I'’ll bet you

that I can start out tomorrow with absolutely nothing,

not a penny to my name, not a stitch on my back--Naked?

Naked. And in three days--You'’d be arrested

in three minutes for indecent exposure.Let me finish.

In three days I can earn enough by my own honest efforts to...

to wear an Antonio suit, like yours,

eat in the finest restaurant in town,

drive a Winton automobile, and a thousand dollars in the bank.

Say that again.

Thousand dollars in the bank? A Winton automobile?

Custom clothes by Antonio,

meals in the finest restaurant in town.

In a space of three days?

Young fellow, you'’ve got yourself a bet.

And if I succeed?

You can marry all the daughters I'’ve got.

I'’ll settle for Marjorie. Thank you, Mr. Delafield.

I knew you were a gambler.

You'’d never gotten as far as you did if you weren'’t.

When'’re you going to start, Horatio Alger?

Tomorrow morning. 9:00, Palace Hotel, Room 202.

I'’ll have a committee on hand to see that you abide by the rules.

Your privilege, sir.One other stipulation.

Yes?Marjorie is to know nothing of this wager.

Agreed. Good day, sir.

Sam, you'’re off your trolley!

Maybe.But what do you want to do it for?

My business. Your business is news,

and I'’m giving you a story.

If you'’ve got the nerve to go through with it.

Then I can have the next three days off, then, chief?

Thanks.You mean you'’re really going to appear

in public like a newly hatched egg?

You be at the front door of the Palace Hotel

tomorrow morning at 9:30 with your camera and you will see.

[ knocking ]

Come in.

Mr. Swift?

Ah, Mr. Delafield'’s committee. Good morning, gentlemen.

Good morning.Allow me to introduce

Judge Downey.Howdy do, sir.

Doctor Rider.Doctor Rider.

My name is Bascomb. I'’m the manager of this hotel.

How do you do?

Well, gentlemen, I think you'’re five minutes early,

or else my watch is slow.

Oh, Mr. Bascomb?Yes?

Would be kind enough to do me the favor

of keeping this in the hotel safe?Yes.

And my wallet? There'’s $3 there.

Now, you gentlemen all know the conditions of the agreement?

ALL: We do.

Well, I may as well get started.

This um-- This won'’t take long.

SAM: How'’s the weather outside?

Thermometer read 52 this morning.

Brr!

Any people on the street?

Not too many.

SAM: There will be.

Well, gentlemen, I'’m ready for the inspection

if you will have your admission fee ready.

Admission? SAM: Certainly.

You don'’t think you're going to see me for nothing, do you?

Costs each of you four bits.

50 cents?Mr. Delafield never mentioned this.

An oversight on his part.

We can'’t inspect him without looking.

And we can'’t look without paying.

So, I guess we may as well pay.There you are, sir.

There'’s mine.Thank you.

Here'’s mine.Thank you.

All right, gentlemen.

How about it, Doc?

Naked as the day you were born.

Judge? Verdict: Naked.

Mr. Bascomb? September Morn, himself.

Thank you, gentlemen. I'’ll be with you in a second.

Well, I'’m on my way.

Hey! You'’re not naked.

Well, I was. You testified to that.

That'’s right, he did start out naked.

You are stealing one of our towels.

I am renting this towel from the hotel, sir, for 25 cents.

Money which I honestly earned.

Another stipulation of my agreement with Mr. Delafield.

Well? Pardon me. Good day, gentlemen.

Oh, good morning.Sam, hold it!

PHOTOGRAPHER: That should be a beaut.

Now would you care to make a statement for the press?

Yeah, a note for the fashion editor.

Skin is being worn with goose pimples this season.Um, yes.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anything else? Yeah.

You may quote me as saying that now I know how Lady Godiva felt

when she took her famous ride.

See you, Ernie.

Bye.

Ouch!

[ chatter ]

Oh, good morning.

Well, my friend, looks like you came into the right place.

Yeah, just in time, too.

Somebody steal your clothes?

No, I gave them away.

Oh, now you want a nice, new outfit?That'’s right.

What'’ve you got for a dollar and a quarter?

A dollar and a quarter? That'’s a joke.

Why, that wouldn'’t even buy you a necktie.

It'’s all I've got to spend.

Well, then, my friend you came to the wrong place.

This is high-class tailor shop.

Well, if you have no suit within my price range,

I'’ll have to make my own.

You get out of here before I lose my temper.

Just a minute, Mr. Antonio--[ speaking Italian ]

Mr. Antonio, you believe in advertising, don'’t you?

You get out or I'’ll call the police.

How would you like to have 5,000 people outside your store today?

Have your name, a picture of your shop on the front page

of every newspaper in the city?

Everybody talking about Antonio Suits.

A million dollars worth of publicity for free.

For free?Uh-huh.

How do I get it?Well...

Loan me some scissors, sell me six yards of brown wrapping paper,

some needles and thread, and a few buttons

for a dollar and a quarter, and you'’ll see.

A million dollars worth it would advertise for free?That'’s right. Uh-huh.

I'’ll do it.

[ crowd noise ]

NORMAN: Sam Swift as he emerged from the Palace Hotel this morning

to brave the asphalt streets, chilly weather, city cops,

and the hazards of traffic.

How perfectly disgusting. The man must be demented.

No one in his right mind would do a thing like that.

Would they, Marcus?Well it, uh--

It'’s a bit unusual.

He must have amnesia or something.

You know these newspapermen. Anything for publicity.

But why? What could he possibly gain by it?

Why do men sit on flagpoles or jump out of balloons?

I never could understand.Where is he now?

At the hour of going to press Mr. Swift was sitting

in the window of Antonio'’s Tailor Shop cutting out paper dolls.

Well!

[ delighted crowd chatter ]

[ crowd cheers ]

Well, how'’s this for a suit made out of paper?

What do you think, eh?

I still think you are crazy, but I love you like my own brother.

Look at that crowd out there.

I never had such publicity in all my life. Never.

Just for that, Mr. Swift, I'’m going to make you a suit, myself.

The best suit in the house. Real good.

Well, I still haven'’t got a cent to my name, Mr. Antonio.

That'’s for free. No charge.

That'’s what I'’ve been waiting to hear.

I'’ll be in for it tomorrow.

I'’ll be ready for you.Good.

Take care of my towel for me, will you?Sure, sure.

What'’re you going to do now?

Er-- Sally forth and find some way to make a thousand dollars.

Be careful, that crowd will start to grab a souvenir

off your paper suit.[ laughs ]

Souvenirs! Oh! Thank you, brother!

For what?For giving me an idea.

[ speaking Italian ]

[ applause ]

I make the front page, Ernie?

Did you? Take a look at this.

What? You want me to autograph this paper as a souvenir

of the occasion? Why certainly, sir.

Happy to do it.

There you are, sir.I don'’t want your autogr--

A dollar? Oh, no, sir! Happy to do it for

only a quarter. And hand it over.

Oh, one at a time, folks. Okay--

Don'’t push. Have your quarters ready.

Here, Ernie, you be cashier. Put the quarter in the hat.

That'’s right, thank you.

Sam, you really cleaned up.

Mr. Swift, [ speaks Italian ] You are financial genius.

Oh, Sam, you'’re not going to carry all this money around

with you, are you?No!

I'’m going to put it in the bank.

And I know exactly the right one--

the Sierra National.

I'’m going to take it to Mr. Norman Cates, assistant manager

in charge of new accounts.

He made me the laughingstock of the entire bank.

Standing there barefooted with that ridiculous paper suit.

I shall never live it down.

$767.50 in the space of a couple of hours.

Just goes to prove what fools people can be.

NORMAN: To pay whatever he asked.

25 cents.

How do you know?

Well, I just happened to be in the neighborhood and

I got caught in the crowd.

Don'’t tell me you bought his autograph, Eliza.

[ laughs ]

Well I don'’t think it's funny.

I don'’t think any of it'’s funny.

The boy'’s a financial wizard.

He'’s a cheap exhibitionist, if you'’ll pardon me, sir.

I agree with Mr. Cates.

Think that he had been in this house, in this very room.

Why, um-- Yes. ELIZA: Calling upon Marjorie.

Well whoever put him up to this ought to be ashamed of himself.

His editor, most likely, to boost sales.

Father, call the Bulletinup

and tell them just what you think of them.

That it'’s yellow journalism.

You bought a paper yourself, my dear.

Well where is Sam now? Does anybody know?

Hi, chief.What'’s the latest?

He'’s in the park cooking himself some supper.

Says he'’s going to spend the night there...

on a bench.

After making all that money selling autographs?

Says he'’s got to save that for something else.

Has he given you any idea as to why he'’s doing all this?

He closes up like a clam whenever I ask him.

Well, he'’s still front page copy.

Did you get any more pictures? Nope.

He'’s put his foot down. What?

Says from now on, anybody who photographs him has to pay

a hundred dollars a shot. Well, pay him.

Hmm?I said pay him!

Man alive, it'’s worth $500!

Get that camera and get back there!Okay, chief.

Hold it.

Here you are.

$20, $40, $60, $80--$100. Thank you.

Every little bit helps. Need any more pictures

look me up.

Guess I'’ll call it a day.

MAN: Monsieur Swift! Monsieur Swift!

I am Pierre Mertino, a friend of Monsieur Antonio.

Oh, yes. How do you do?

I own Maxime'’s Restaurant on Front Street.

You know the place?

Sure, everybody does.

Finest restaurant in town. All'’s that can afford it.

Monsieur Swift, I would be most happy if you would be

the guest of Maxime'’s.

Thank you, but I'’ve already had my supper-- Beans and bacon.

Tomorrow, then. And the next day, and the day after that.

Monsieur Swift, you shall have carte blanche at Maxime'’s

any time you wish.I won'’t have to eat in the window?

No, Monsieur Swift, I shall give you the best table.

And I shall tell everybody Maxime'’s is where Sam Swift

"The Nature Man" eats.[ laughs ]

They will fight for reservations.

They will want the menus autographed![ groans ]

No-- No more autographs.

You will come, then, without autographs?Oh, I'’d be delighted!

Thank you! Thank you, Monsieur Swift!

And now, I go and tell my chef to create a new dish

named for you!Bye...

Make it spare ribs, a la Godiva.

Now, Sam, what is all this about?

Come on, break down. What is the reason behind all this?

I told you. I'’m trying to prove that

America is the land of opportunity.

All right, but what'’s your reason?

Ernie, you ever sleep on a newspaper?

Quite a night. Let me show you. Observe.

Sports section I wrap around my feet.

Want ads around my knees.

Society section around my hips.

Cooking hints over the stomach.

Ah, advice to the lovelorn. Over the heart.

And so, my dear friends, I bid you one and all

a fond goodnight.[ laughter ]

Goodnight!

MARJORIE: Sam!

Marjorie!I found out where you were. I asked a policeman.

What do you think, it'’s proper to visit a man in his bedroom?

Sam, this joke has gone far enough.

Nobody has a right to exploit you like this.

I'’m not being exploited.

You'’re coming back with me right now.Back where?

Why, to our house.

Where you can have a good, hot bath and some dinner.

Father will-- So your father sent you?

No, I--You tell your father for me I'’m not calling my dogs off.

Understand? I'’ve come this far in this thing.

I'’m seeing it through.

Sam, dear--And don'’t you try to tempt me.

Sam, listen to me, please.

Norman'’s waiting right over there with his automobile.

He'’ll drive y--Norman! Now I know

it'’s a plot to put me out of the running.

I'’m not budging.

You are an exhibitionist, of the most vulgar sort.

You just want to make the headlines,

bask in the limelight.

Well, I think it'’s disgusting.

Freeze to death out here! Get yourself arrested!

I don'’t care. I hope I never see or hear of you again.

You-- You eccentric!

Marjorie!

Norman? I said that I couldn'’t give you an answer,

but my mind'’s made up.

I will marry you.Oh, Marjorie!

Now I'’d like to look at some hats.

Oh, we have a complete selection. All kinds.

Bulbous, fedoras...I don'’t like those.

Let'’s try the skimmer and see how it looks.

No, no. Mr. Swift, this way.Ah-ha!

Sam! There'’s a fella outside with an automobile for you.

An automobile?Ernie, what do you think of this hat?

It'’s a Winton!I know.

You bought a Winton?

Well, no. I can'’t afford an expensive car like that.

Someday you will.

Let'’s hope.

Meanwhile, the company, at my suggestion, is giving me

the use of one of their new models in return

for my endorsement. [ laughter ]

Mr. Swift, you killing me.

Yesterday, you duck in here just ahead of the police, wearing a towel.

And today you drive away in a Winton

and wearing an Antonio suit.

Tony, all it takes is a little imagination and some enterprise.

And plenty of nerve.That helps too.

Oh, Marjorie, this is wonderful.

I'’ll give a big tea to announce it.

And I think a June wedding would be lovely.

Father, you haven'’t said a word yet.Oh, well I--

This is all so sudden, it'’s kind of taken my breath away.

Oh, if you knew what a comfort this was, Norman.

I may call you Norman, mayn'’t I?

Why certainly, mother.

To know that our little girl is going to be in such good hands.

[ car horn blasts ]

It'’s Sam.

I won'’t see him.

I'’ll tell the butler to refuse him.

We'’re not at home.No, I'’ve got to see him.

MARJORIE: Then you can see him alone!

Yes, I do not care to have any further words with him.

Come, dear.

Now, look. You can'’t leave me to face him all by myself.

Why?

It wouldn'’t be good manners for you all to walk out.

I hardly think Mr. Swift will be concerned with manners.

You don'’t understand--Hello, everybody!

Well, I made it, Mr. Delafield,

and faster than I thought I would, too.

30 hours instead of three days.

You have clothes on!

Genuine Antonio.

And a thousand dollars in the bank, and a Winton at the curb.

NORMAN: A Winton? Yes.

I prefer it to the Pierce-Arrow.

The manager at Maxime'’s is reserving a table for two

for me this evening.

Will you give me the pleasure of your company, Miss Delafield?

Sam--My fiancé and I

are dining together this evening.

Fiancé?It'’s true.

And we'’re all very happy about it.

I'’m sorry, Sam.

I had no idea she'’d get engaged to anyone else so soon.

Father, what are you talking about?

FATHER: Sam and I made a bet.

And you lost?

Yes, I lost.

I lost a son-in-law who'’s one of the greatest go-getters

this country has ever seen,

a man I could take into my company, train to succeed me.

Marcus, will you please stop raving and explain?

Sam bet me that he could start with nothing-- but nothing.

And end up, in three days, like this.

And the stakes?

Permission to court you.

Marcus, how could you?

So that was the reason.

Sam, why didn'’t you tell me?

Part of the bargain.

Well, my congratulations to you both.

Thank you.I hope you'’ll be very happy.

Sam, wait!Let him go, Marjorie.

Let him go? Would you have done what he did,

go through what he has just to win me?

You know you wouldn'’t.

You wouldn'’t even appear out on the street without a necktie.

Sam!

There he is, now. He'’s cranking up the automobile.

Maybe she won'’t catch up to him.

Come on, Margie! Hurry up or he'’ll get away!

Sam! Sam, I want to explain!

Nothing to say, Marjorie.But you don'’t understand.

I'’d rather not hear it.

They'’re arguing!

Oh, now she'’s climbing in beside him.Good.

She'’s throwing her arms around him.

In public.That'’s my girl.

They'’re kissing.

Good going, Mr. Godiva!

There, there, mother.

Don'’t "mother" me!

And the moral of this story is

if you want a thing badly enough

in a country like ours,

there'’s, generally, some way of getting it honestly.