Hot Rhythm is a 1944 American musical comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring Robert Lowery, Dona Drake, and the radio and vaudeville team of Tim and Irene (Tim Ryan and Irene Ryan).

Plot

J. P. O'Hara (Tim Ryan) owns the Beacon Recording Company, with studio and distribution facilities. His biggest attraction is singer-bandleader Tommy Taylor (Jerry Cooper), who is managed by "Honest Herman" Strohbach (Robert Kent). Two staff members, Jimmy and Sammy (Robert Lowery and Sidney Miller), are aspiring songwriters who make their living writing radio jingles. They meet singer Mary Adams (Dona Drake), and Jimmy is so taken with her that he resolves to advance her career by any means possible. He records Mary singing along to an instrumental played by Taylor's orchestra, hoping to interest O'Hara in Mary. When Mary's demonstration record is released to the public accidentally, Taylor's manager threatens to sue O'Hara. O'Hara goes around town buying back copies of Mary's record and smashing them in the stores, which lands him in jail. Confusing matters further is O'Hara's new secretary, Polly Kane (Irene Ryan), who makes her own recording and is thus mistaken for mystery vocalist Mary. Mary's stormy romance with Jimmy is finally smoothed over when Jimmy tells O'Hara the truth about his finagling to promote Mary. Mary joins Tommy Taylor's band as his new singing star.