How to Frame a Figg

This zany film rivals the Ghost and Mr. Chicken as one of Don Knott's finest film performances. Knotts is an accountant for a Podunk city hall that is good for swindling the citizens. They fire the "three competent bookkeepers and keep the dumb one" (Knotts of course is the dumb one). When his garbage collecting cohort accidentally empties the wrong trash can, Knotts finds himself wrapped up in a bizarre trap set by the city council for him. Funny moments in the movie include the Bowling Alley Restroom scene, and the cemetery scene is absolutely hilarious. Typical Knotts, the nervous ninny act is well used, and as usual he is surrounded by lots of crazy character actors from the sixties. Such actors as Frank Welker, and Pitt Herbert add to the mayhem. As one may expect Knotts's armed with a big car, a pretty girl, and no real clue of what he's doing. Fun for anyone, especially nostalgia buffs, but just about anyone will love it.

I remember seeing the beginning of this movie-during the late '80s or early '90s, I can't remember which-on an independent station (well, it was a Fox one, actually) when I lived in Jacksonville, FL. It looked funny enough but for some reason, I didn't bother to watch the whole thing. So now I just did that on Netflix DVD. My verdict: I found most of it pretty hilarious what with Don Knotts' usual persona of a nervous, easily upset, reluctant hero. Among the funny supporting cast: Frank Welker as Knotts' best friend, Elaine Joyce as his sweet girlfriend, Edward Andrews as the corrupt mayor, Joe Flynn as the mayor's associate, Parker Fennelly as the cantankerous boss of the latter two, and Yvonne Craig as Knotts' "secretary". Both Ms. Joyce and Ms. Craig are sexy in their own way here though I have to admit that Ms. Craig is the more alluring one every time she shows up. I had a real good time watching this one! So on that note, I recommend How to Frame a Figg.

This outing of Knotts includes one of his best sidekicks ever, Frank Welker. Welker makes the film. Knotts and Welker compete for the laughs and both receive plenty. Knotts works for a small "no where" town where the city is being run by some of the most ignorant officials. When things go wrong the city fathers, allow Knotts to take the fall. Frank Welker's character befriends Knotts and together they stumble together to clear up the mess and Knott's good name. This film shows the usual Knott's scared to death character that made him famous for years on television and film. This may have been Knotts' last good outing. When you have an extra 90 minutes, get a good old fashioned laugh a great icon, Don Knotts.

Don Knotts is in yet another worm is turned film where he's set up to be a patsy to take a fall, but he somehow outsmarts the crooks. In this case the crooks are among others the mayor of his small town and chief assistant Edward Andrews and Joe Flynn.

Our hero is this meek accountant working for the city and the big guys feeling the heat of investigation decide Knotts is their patsy. To do that they have to give him or pretend to give him a big promotion.

What can I say is that even Knotts is not as stupid as they think. He's ably assisted by girlfriend Elaine Joyce and his friend and big movie fan Frank Welker. Welker is especially funny here, constantly making allusions to all these old films to cover every situation they are in.

Knotts is also perfectly cast in the role. He'd be the perpetual schnook in all his films not just How To Frame A Fig.

HOW TO FRAME A FIGG is a vintage Don Knotts-frenetic, farcical comedy, and features him at the top of his form as the hysterical, cat-on-hot-tin-roof nervous, persecuted civil servant Hollis Figg. What a lot of people may not recognise is that they are also seeing someone else in a rare character appearance: Figg's slightly dim-bulb sidekick, Prentiss Gates, who is played convincingly by Frank Welker. Welker, whose face is relatively unknown, has nonetheless a voice that is very well known indeed: He is heard in literally bazillions of films, TV series, and cartoons. You have watched but few shows in recent years, including "The Simpsons", that did not feature Frank Welker's remarkable ability to mimic animal sounds and other weird aural effects.