Brendel's star immediately rose at the studio, largely in part due to the advent of sound. His "simple Swede" character now had a voice, and his malaprop-ridden dialogue gave his character new appeal. He was featured in the boisterous "Quirt and Flagg" military comedies with Edmund Lowe and Victor McLaglen. After finishing production of "Sunny Side Up" with Janet Gaynor, Brendel was the star comedian in "New Movietone Follies of 1930", "The Big Trail" with John Wayne, and the Gershwin musical "Delicious" with Gaynor, which introduced the song "New York Rhapsody" and featured Brendel's rendition of "Blah Blah Blah". In 1930 Brendel starred in "Just Imagine", a science fiction musical directed by David Butler. In 1931 Fox starred him in the dual roles of Mr. Lemon and Silent McGee in the comedy "Mr. Lemon of Orange." While "Mr. Lemon of Orange" was publicized by Fox as Brendel's first starring role, that distinction is more accurately given to "Just Imagine", which was released five months earlier. Brendel was the most popular comedian in America at the time, according to author Richard Barrios.