There's a lot going on at the Merchant's hotel. A magician's convention is just breaking up, while a mortician's convention is about to get started. In addition, a mediation between aircraft manufacturers and workers will soon take place. There is no obvious connection between these 3 groups in the beginning, but each will have some relevance to the central plot of a body being discovered in one of the guest rooms, and the hotel personnel trying to hush up the incident, fearing it will harm the hotel's reputation. To accomplish this, the body is moved around from place to place, trying to keep the police from finding it. This is sometimes accomplished by 2 hostess sisters(Hope and Faith Banner, played by Joan Blondell and Binnie Barnes)or by the hotel manager Puddle(Robert Benchley) or by Tommy (John Howard): the hotel's press agent. In addition, there is a bonkers magician(Eric Blore) who hasn't left because he's looking for "Charlie".
Frank McGlynn plays the chairman of the morticians convention.. looking appropriately creepy, fitting the Hollywood stereotype of what undertakers should look like.
Janet Blair(as Charity) plays the much younger sister of Hope and Faith. She's been going to an all girls private school, financed by Hope. Evidently, she's been man-starved, as she throws herself at most any man, giving Tommy a passionate kiss or two. Hope and Tommy have occasionally talked about marriage, but when Hope catches Charity and Tommy kissing, she assumes Charity has taken her place. Charity says she doesn't want to go back to school; she wants to be a hostess, like Hope and Faith.
Robert Benchley plays his usual role as hotel or apartment manager, or a similar type of profession. Unfortunately, he's not as funny as in some films I've seen....I was impressed with John Howard as Tommy.
In the incident where the body, abetted by Tommy, is playing poker with several men, the body keeps winning: "He's a lucky stiff" one remarks. But Tommy wants to lose so he has an excuse to leave with the body.
I won't tell you how the magician, the morticians and the labor mediation conference further fit into the story. See the film on YouTube to find out how things work out.
I rate this film as a lesser screwball comedy, which may be worthwhile for you to check out. The title is misleading, as the action all takes place within or just outside of a hotel.
Frank McGlynn plays the chairman of the morticians convention.. looking appropriately creepy, fitting the Hollywood stereotype of what undertakers should look like.
Janet Blair(as Charity) plays the much younger sister of Hope and Faith. She's been going to an all girls private school, financed by Hope. Evidently, she's been man-starved, as she throws herself at most any man, giving Tommy a passionate kiss or two. Hope and Tommy have occasionally talked about marriage, but when Hope catches Charity and Tommy kissing, she assumes Charity has taken her place. Charity says she doesn't want to go back to school; she wants to be a hostess, like Hope and Faith.
Robert Benchley plays his usual role as hotel or apartment manager, or a similar type of profession. Unfortunately, he's not as funny as in some films I've seen....I was impressed with John Howard as Tommy.
In the incident where the body, abetted by Tommy, is playing poker with several men, the body keeps winning: "He's a lucky stiff" one remarks. But Tommy wants to lose so he has an excuse to leave with the body.
I won't tell you how the magician, the morticians and the labor mediation conference further fit into the story. See the film on YouTube to find out how things work out.
I rate this film as a lesser screwball comedy, which may be worthwhile for you to check out. The title is misleading, as the action all takes place within or just outside of a hotel.