Hildy Johnson, a former reporter, visits her ex-husband Walter Burns, managing editor of the Morning Post, while her new fiancé Bruce Baldwin waits outside. Walter is embroiled in a crisis over the case of Earl Williams, a condemned man whose execution is due the next morning, and he pressures Hildy to help the paper. The episode is a 1940 Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of the comedy His Girl Friday, starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray, with Jack Carson as Bruce Baldwin, broadcast on September 30, 1940. Hildy, who has resolved to leave journalism, is drawn back into the story as the three characters' plans become tangled.
Characters: Hildy Johnson, Walter Burns, Bruce Baldwin, Louis Palusalo, Earl Williams, Duffy, Sweeney, Maisie
The transcript of “His Girl Friday”, an episode of Lux Radio Theatre first broadcast September 30, 1940. Press a time to play from that line (a 60-second preview; Potato Plus plays it all). Lux Radio Theatre plays Lux Radio Theatre free, live around the clock. Search inside this transcript.
Transcript
Luck present Hollywood. The Luck radio theater brings you Claudette Colbert and Fred McMurray in his Girl Friday with Jack Carson. Ladies and gentlemen, your producer, Mr. Cecil B. DeMille. Greetings from Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen.
And that goes double for the ladies and gentlemen of the press. Because we feel a slight pang of regret for what we're about to do to them. It's been rumored that they don't ordinarily behave as our play tonight would indicate, but we gaily beg their indulgence on the ground that his girl Friday is an exceptional case.
Tonight we present a Lady of the Press in the engaging person of Grode at Colbert and a gentleman of the same profession played by Fred McMurray, a perfect team for the hectic happenings of the next hour.
And right now I'm going to give away a trade secret about this comedy. Most of you will remember a famous play about the newspaper business called the Front Page. Well, any resemblance between that play and his girl Friday is no coincidence but entirely intentional.
This Columbia screen hit produced by Harry Cohn and Sam Briskin was based on the front page, but certain differences make it practically a new story. Hilde Johnson, the hero, used to be a man. Tonight, Hilde is a lady, a very charming lady, to go that cobalt.
burns the autocrat of the editorial rooms is just as autocratic as ever with Fred MacBarry in the past, and between rapid adventures with an escaped maniac or crooked sheriff or last minute reprieve and a kidnapped mother-in-law, they even managed to find time for romance.
I'm sure every woman will agree that the silent partner of romance is lovelin, and that's why so many millions of women choose lux toilet soap. They know that lux toilet soap is a very active partner of love letters. Now a quick signal to the switchboard, the footlights Brighton and the curtain rises on the first act of his girl Friday,
…
I remember the pictures he be and I know you'll have a thrilling play next Monday night. Good night. Good night. And in the words of one W. Winters, authors to both of you. Our sponsors, the makers of Luxe toilet soap, join me in inviting you to be with us again next Monday night.
When the Lux Radio Theater presents George Brent, Olivia de Havilland and John Payne in Wings of the Navy. This will be the mill saying goodnight to you from Hollywood. Heard in tonight's play were Arthur Q. Bryan as Sheriff, Edward Mars, Louie, Lou Merrill as Mayor, Chester Clute as Petabone, Warren Ash as McHugh, Charles Seale as Murphy, Edwin Maxis and Descartes,
Verna Felton is Mrs. Baldwin, Tony Hughes as her Williams, Sherman Nichols as Duffy, and Catherine Keys and Hal Gerard. Fred McMurray is currently appearing on the screen in the Paramount picture Rangers of Fortune. Jack Carson is featured in the RKO picture Lucky Partners. His Girl Friday was based on the front page by Ben
Hecht and Charles MacArthur. The Scarlett O'Hara brooch offered you by the makers of Lux Toilet Soap is designed after one worn by Vivian Lee in Gone with the Wind, the Selznick International Pector produced by David O. Selznick and released by Metro Goldwyn Mayer.
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