Dangerous Number

As I sat and watched "Dangerous Number", I felt a bit annoyed. While there might have been some story elements that would have resulted in a good movie, too often the film chooses to be loud, brash and kooky. As a result, the film has aged poorly and is rather annoying.

When the film begins, it seems as if the movie is missing some plot (some felt it was trimmed and perhaps it was). You gather that Hank (Robert Young) has been overseas for a long time and discovers that his old girlfriend, Eleanor (Ann Sothern) is about to get married. So what does a guy do in a situation like this? He crashes the wedding and he and Eleanor then run off and get married. Soon they discover they have little in common and the marriage might just be a mistake. What follows are some annoyingly shrill and nonsensical adventures--all done to prove to the pair that they really SHOULD be married.

Robert Young and Ann Sothern are better than the material and the film repeatedly underestimates the intelligence of the audience. Overall, a pretty limp film that is best left to the die-hard Yong/Sothern fans.

Stars Robert Young and Ann Sothern... and Franklin Pangborn as (uncredited) desk clerk, a role he played many times. Hank (Young) steals Eleanor away from her husband-to-be, and they run off together. Sadly, it looks like it isn't working out, so what's the backup plan? Along the way, we meet various, assorted relatives... "Mother", who is loud, close by, and annoying ( Cora Witherspoon, was the disapproving aunt in Bank Dick!) and Cousin William (Reginal Owen). Some fun banter, lots of bickering, but it all moves right along. The film code was in full force by now, so it's all pretty lightweight. although cousin William seems to make a couple gay references. Silly mixups. Who is married to whom ? and where was Gene Raymond? he was usually Sothern's antagonist in these love mixups! must have been busy that week. Was surprised at the lower rating... sure it's a bit inane, but it's all in good fun. Directed by the very prolific Richard Thorpe; Thorpe had directed two Elvis films -- Jailhouse Rock and Fun in Acapulco, amongst hundreds of others. Predictable but fun.

While there are a few good funny lines in this film, most of the dialog is wacky without humor. "Dangerous Number" probably set out to be a screwball comedy, but it turns out to be a mostly frantic run around, with very little humor. The cast are all good at what they do, but the screenplay just doesn't come off very funny. The frantic activity of the leads - Robert Young as Hank Medhill and Ann Sothern as Eleanor Breen Medill, becomes grating by halfway through the film.

The supporting cast has some tremendous actors, but they seem mostly miscast - again, due to the screenplay and their roles. Reginald Owen, who so often played British stuffed shirts for many laughs, is little more than a plain fixture here. Cora Witherspoon plays the usual giddy character, but goofy constant prattle is humorless in this film.

I think Young and Southern, and most of the cast gave it their all, but this is one plot that failed with a lousy screenplay. The writer, Carey Wilson, was not known for his work on comedies. He was uncredited on most of the few that he worked on, and only a couple of them fared very well. Here are the best lines from this film.

Eleanor Breen Medhill, "You know, Hank, I've never seen a cow."

Gypsy Breen, Eleanor's mother, "Where's that butler? I feel like kissing someone."

Eleanor, crying, "Oh, me a bride of three days, and my husband has 22 other women." Hank Medhill, "Eight and 16 are 24." Eleanor, "Oh, so now I'm dumb."

Eleanor, "Oh, Hank. I love you so much I've got goose pimples."

Eleanor, "Oh, you're trying to get rid of me." Hank, "I'm not trying to get rid of you, but I don't wanna stay around this Babylonian beer parlor."

Eleanor, "We used to have fun. Why, we did everything except light fire to city hall."

Eleanor, "Well, I didn't hear you screaming about my friends before we were married". Hank, "I didn't see 'em enough to scream about 'em. What's all right a couple of times a week is poison ivy three times a day." Eleanor, "Oh, so now I'm trying to poison you."

Gypsy Breen, "I never can think properly when there's a man in the room. Some way or another, my mind always seems to be on the man instead of what I'm trying to think about."

Gypsy Breen, "Oh, I always thought it all seemed very irregular, one husband in New York and another one in California. Oh, but now they're both in New York, and that makes everything all right."

Hank, "Vera!" Vera Montana, "Shut up!"

Fitfully funny madcap from MGM. Is Young still married to Sothern or not. Looks like she already had a husband, Jagger, but Daylight Savings Time sabotaged their divorce. So what's going on with the clocks. Then too, how did the mismatched Young and Sothern get together in the first place-- he's a straight-laced businessman with a fuzzy-faced brother, while she's a wacky show-biz gal with an imperious mom. Probably it's best they go their separate ways-- or is it. Somehow the scripter has to figure it all out; that is, if the sometimes clumsy editing will let him.

For sure you don't need a hearing aid for the dialog-- even the reserved Young has to shout many of his lines, while Sothern almost screeches. It's like the movie's trying too hard in frantic style to get the madcap across. There's just too much of this ill-timed excess to reach a more memorable comedy rank. There are some good moments especially the wind-up that's charmingly done, plus the amusing chorus line that Young could do without.

Despite the problems here, Sothern would soon display her brassy brand of comedy in the highly successful Maisie series, while the handsome Young would become every kid's favorite 1950's dad. Nonetheless, this 71-minutes can't seem to find its proper wave-length, even though it tries so hard. Too bad.

My big criticism of Dangerous Number is that a huge chunk was apparently chopped off at the beginning and left on MGM's cutting room floor. There is an ongoing relationship with Robert Young and Ann Sothern that we walk in on the middle with.

Dangerous Number is a perfect example of the MGM pecking order. No doubt in my mind that this was offered and turned down by Robert Montgomery and Franchot Tone before Young got it. Still he does his best with it and he and Sothern do generate more than a few laughs.

Young is a silk manufacturer and Sothern a dancer who can't live without each other and do marry. But neither can stand each other's lifestyle of business and show business. There's also an ex-husband lurking in the woodpile played by Dean Jagger. Or is he really an EX-husband?

Best scenes in the film involve Young with trick short artist Marla Shelton. It's all a grand set up engineered by a jealous Sothern, but you have to see the film to see what's behind it.

Dangerous Number is a pleasant comedy from the Thirties and probably was a B feature for one of MGM's more prestige pictures.