Merton of the Movies is a 1922 satirical comedy play by George S. Kaufman and Marc Connelly.
The play, a satire of the film industry, follows Merton Gill, a store clerk who dreams of being a movie star.
He saves his small salary and (having studied acting via correspondence school) goes to Hollywood to haunt casting offices.
Heywood Broun called it "The most amusing show of the season" while The New York Times declared it "A delight in every way", and the production was a considerable success, running for 392 performances and closing on October 20, 1923.
[2] The play (rather than the novel) was used as the basis for the 1924 silent film Merton of the Movies in which Glenn Hunter reprised his Broadway role.