Here's my theory: The writers found out that they only had 45 solid minutes worth of script, panicked, and started slamming random words together. Take this example, from Myrna Loy, when the writers were apparently desperate and the two lead characters seemed to be having some kind of a nervous breakdown:
"Buy it? The very word. The word even. That awful word. Idea, idea, idea. All day long. You know what you look like when you say it? Like a foolish fellow with as much character as a lamppost. A lamppost fits it perfectly, Bill. It's very imposing when it's lit at night, but when it's daytime, it just goes out and looks like a silly lamppost. I'm sorry dear. I really am. That was silly of me."
The evil-looking Douglas Fowley was badly miscast as good-natured George, and Marjorie Main was wasted in an unnecessary and somewhat confusing role as a landlord. (Was she supposed to have had a crush on Robert Taylor?)
In fairness, Loy and Taylor pull out all their acting chops to try to sell the incoherent script. Blonde and Blackie, the two sales clerks, were very cute. Myrna Loy is an adorable drunk. And Charles Lane always seemed to do a great job of playing a crotchety old man, even when he was young.
If that's enough to carry you through to the abrupt and absurd ending, then go for it.
"Buy it? The very word. The word even. That awful word. Idea, idea, idea. All day long. You know what you look like when you say it? Like a foolish fellow with as much character as a lamppost. A lamppost fits it perfectly, Bill. It's very imposing when it's lit at night, but when it's daytime, it just goes out and looks like a silly lamppost. I'm sorry dear. I really am. That was silly of me."
The evil-looking Douglas Fowley was badly miscast as good-natured George, and Marjorie Main was wasted in an unnecessary and somewhat confusing role as a landlord. (Was she supposed to have had a crush on Robert Taylor?)
In fairness, Loy and Taylor pull out all their acting chops to try to sell the incoherent script. Blonde and Blackie, the two sales clerks, were very cute. Myrna Loy is an adorable drunk. And Charles Lane always seemed to do a great job of playing a crotchety old man, even when he was young.
If that's enough to carry you through to the abrupt and absurd ending, then go for it.