Just a year before she scored as Ma Kettle and created a lengthy series, Marjorie Main appeared in nearly the same part as the Widow Hawkins whose hated husband is apparently accidentally killed by Lou Costello. If it's not the Widow Main, it's her attractive daughter Audrey Young (a bit of a vamp), a bunch of bratty younger kids or a pranksterous bullfrog who loves soup hopping. Main makes Bud and Lou work for her, setting her sites on Lou as her next husband. She knows how to sweet talk and how to be aggressive if the sweet-talking doesn't work, leading to some very funny situations.
While not as messy as Ma Kettle, the widow Hawkins isn't about to let Lou go without a fight, and Ms. Main is an absolute delight whether reciting sonnets or barking orders. She deserves honors for being one of the funniest women in film, even though she had plenty of roles where she was either heartbreaking or heartbusting. Lou scores with the better part and lines, especially when he informs Main about the rings of marriage. Bill Clauson is also very funny as the bratty oldest son who causes Lou no end of trouble.
Then there's George Cleveland as the town judge who spends more time sleeping than pounding his gavel (and when he does, it's not dispersing justice) as well as Gordon Jones and William Ching who are rivals for Ms. Young. Of course, Lou takes a ton of abuse which he does with his customary harranged humor. This has everything going for it, and it's a shame that Abbott and Costello never worked with Main again.
While not as messy as Ma Kettle, the widow Hawkins isn't about to let Lou go without a fight, and Ms. Main is an absolute delight whether reciting sonnets or barking orders. She deserves honors for being one of the funniest women in film, even though she had plenty of roles where she was either heartbreaking or heartbusting. Lou scores with the better part and lines, especially when he informs Main about the rings of marriage. Bill Clauson is also very funny as the bratty oldest son who causes Lou no end of trouble.
Then there's George Cleveland as the town judge who spends more time sleeping than pounding his gavel (and when he does, it's not dispersing justice) as well as Gordon Jones and William Ching who are rivals for Ms. Young. Of course, Lou takes a ton of abuse which he does with his customary harranged humor. This has everything going for it, and it's a shame that Abbott and Costello never worked with Main again.