Heads Up
Synopsis
Jack Mason of the Coast Guard Academy meets Mary at the graduation ball and falls in love with her, though the girl's mother finds wealthy Rex Cutting a more proper choice for her daughter. On a yachting cruise arranged by Mrs. Trumbull, Jack is not invited. Meanwhile, Mary suspects Rex of picking up contraband beyond the 12-mile limit and refuses his proposal of marriage, while Betty, her impish sister, drives Skippy to distraction in the galley, where he has installed an automatic kitchen that does most of his work. Jack smuggles himself aboard but is forcibly ejected at port by a coast guard, and Mrs. Trumbull discourages his attempt to elope with Mary; but on a subsequent cruise, he hides himself in a lifeboat with two aides. When the captain stops to take on a cargo of rum, Jack and his aides take over the vessel, and a battle ensues. The yacht is wrecked on an island, and Jack proves his heroism, while Rex reveals his true colors and is identified as a fugitive bootlegger.
Top Cast
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Charles 'Buddy' Rogers
Jack Mason
Helen Kane
Betty Trumbull
Margaret Breen
Mary Trumbull
Victor Moore
Skippy Dugan
Gene Gowing
Rex Cutting
Helen Carrington
Mrs. Martha Trumbull
Billy Taylor
Georgie Martin
Harry Shannon
Capt. Denny
Charles Anthony Hughes
Larry White
John Hamilton
Capt. Whitney
Preston Foster
Blake (uncredited)
Stanley Jessup
Naval Officer (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 10, 1930
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Victor Schertzinger
- Screenplay & Story
- Jack Kirkland, John McGowan
- Original Title
- Heads Up
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 16m
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Victor Schertzinger
Jack Kirkland, John McGowan, Paul Gerard Smith, Lorenz Hart, Don Hartman
William O. Steiner
Department Leadership Roster
Victor Schertzinger
Director
William O. Steiner
Director of Photography
Jack Kirkland
Screenplay
John McGowan
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Heads Up.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Heads Up.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Heads Up
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Heads Up about?
Jack Mason of the Coast Guard Academy meets Mary at the graduation ball and falls in love with her, though the girl's mother finds wealthy Rex Cutting a more proper choice for her daughter. On a yachting cruise arranged by Mrs. Trumbull, Jack is not invited. Meanwhile, Mary suspects Rex of picking up contraband beyond the 12-mile limit and refuses his proposal of marriage, while Betty, her impish sister, drives Skippy to distraction in the galley, where he has installed an automatic kitchen that does most of his work. Jack smuggles himself aboard but is forcibly ejected at port by a coast guard, and Mrs. Trumbull discourages his attempt to elope with Mary; but on a subsequent cruise, he hides himself in a lifeboat with two aides. When the captain stops to take on a cargo of rum, Jack and his aides take over the vessel, and a battle ensues. The yacht is wrecked on an island, and Jack proves his heroism, while Rex reveals his true colors and is identified as a fugitive bootlegger.
Who directed Heads Up?
Heads Up was directed by Victor Schertzinger.
Who stars in Heads Up?
The principal cast of Heads Up includes Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, Helen Kane, Margaret Breen, Victor Moore, Gene Gowing.
When was Heads Up released and how long is it?
Heads Up was released in 1930 with a total runtime of 1h 16m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Heads Up?
Heads Up holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).