 In 1929 Benny's agent, Sam Lyons, convinced Irving Thalberg, American film producer at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, to watch Benny at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.Benny signed a five-year contract with MGM, where his first role was in "The Hollywood Revue of 1929".The next movie, "Chasing Rainbows", did not do well, and after several months Benny was released from his contract and returned to Broadway in Earl Carroll's "Vanities".