Party Wire [1935] [DVD]

News within the Town of Rockridge flows primary through informal means, namely a telephone party wire on which many of the residents are connected. The latest piece of actual news floating on the party wire is the return to town of one of its prodigal sons, Matthew Putnam, owner of the local dairy and eligible bachelor who every mother of a single daughter in Rockridge wants to nab as a son-in-law. But Matthew only has eyes for Marge Oliver, a long time friend whom he asks to marry. The latest piece of gossip on the party wire is that Marge was abandoned by Roy Daniels, who recently left town many believe after he got Marge pregnant. This news started after the town's biggest gossip, Mathilda Sherman, misunderstood some of a telephone conversation she heard on the party wire between Marge's father, Will Oliver, and Roy. After Marge learns about the town's gossip she wonders whether Matthew, who knows of the news, will still want to marry her. Due to unfortunate circumstances concerning Matthew beyond his control, tragedy occurs within the Oliver family. Matthew takes it upon himself, with a little help from his dowager Aunt Nettie, to right what he sees as the wrongs of Rockridge, the wrongs fed by the talk over the party wire.