You get exactly what you expect from this and if that is a very typical late thirties comedy crime movie without any surprises or anything particularly memorable to make it stand out from the crowd you'll not be disappointed. As predictable as it is, this one however feels a bit more special.
This was the third picture Joan Blondell did with Melvyn Douglas: after a mediocre Thin Man rip off, they got into their stride with a very funny screwball comedy followed almost immediately by this quite witty crime comedy. It's well made, you take an instant liking to the characters and it keeps your interest by having a fairly intelligent and engrossing story. It's not laugh out loud funny but it gives you a comforting and cosy warmth that will make you smile. Somehow because the characters seem like real people, you don't actually notice how ridiculous this story gets at times. For example, it seems quite normal that Melvyn Douglas disguises himself as a woman simply by putting on a dress and a blonde wig still wearing his moustache. Those of you with exemplary musical taste will all be thinking what I thought at that point - that he bears a remarkable resemblance to James Young, the guitarist from STYX or is that just me?
Although her pre-code days and saucy outfits were long behind her by 1939, Joan Blondell has possibly never looked more gorgeous. Her character here is a bit more sophisticated than her earlier roles and it must also be said that she looks particularly voluptuous in this. It's a Melvyn Douglas movies so her role isn't quite as meaty as it could have been as most screen time is devoted to Mr Douglas. Having however escaped the treadmill of Warner Brothers, she certainly looks more relaxed and seems as though she is having fun which of course makes us enjoy it too. It's hardly a dramatic role but it's good to see her playing just slightly different rather than just a caricature of herself which plagued the latter part of her career at Warners.
Even if you're not obsessed with Joan Blondell, if you like 1930s comedies you'll probably enjoy this. It's no BRINGING UP BABY but it's a grade above most of the comedies which were made just before the war.
This was the third picture Joan Blondell did with Melvyn Douglas: after a mediocre Thin Man rip off, they got into their stride with a very funny screwball comedy followed almost immediately by this quite witty crime comedy. It's well made, you take an instant liking to the characters and it keeps your interest by having a fairly intelligent and engrossing story. It's not laugh out loud funny but it gives you a comforting and cosy warmth that will make you smile. Somehow because the characters seem like real people, you don't actually notice how ridiculous this story gets at times. For example, it seems quite normal that Melvyn Douglas disguises himself as a woman simply by putting on a dress and a blonde wig still wearing his moustache. Those of you with exemplary musical taste will all be thinking what I thought at that point - that he bears a remarkable resemblance to James Young, the guitarist from STYX or is that just me?
Although her pre-code days and saucy outfits were long behind her by 1939, Joan Blondell has possibly never looked more gorgeous. Her character here is a bit more sophisticated than her earlier roles and it must also be said that she looks particularly voluptuous in this. It's a Melvyn Douglas movies so her role isn't quite as meaty as it could have been as most screen time is devoted to Mr Douglas. Having however escaped the treadmill of Warner Brothers, she certainly looks more relaxed and seems as though she is having fun which of course makes us enjoy it too. It's hardly a dramatic role but it's good to see her playing just slightly different rather than just a caricature of herself which plagued the latter part of her career at Warners.
Even if you're not obsessed with Joan Blondell, if you like 1930s comedies you'll probably enjoy this. It's no BRINGING UP BABY but it's a grade above most of the comedies which were made just before the war.