Novello returned to composing for the lyric stage in 1929, writing eight numbers for the revue "The House that Jack Built". In the same year, he presented his own play "Symphony in Two Flats", which he took to New York the following year. It was followed by a successful Broadway production of his "The Truth Game", which brought him to the attention of Hollywood studios. He accepted a contract to write for and appear in MGM films. He found little to do in Hollywood, however, beyond writing the dialogue for "Tarzan the Ape Man". Returning to London, he starred in the sound remake of "The Lodger" (1932).