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Both ridiculous and magical, this is a comedic fantasy which really works. Former armed forces dog--a German Shepherd who just inherited a fortune from a wealthy people-hater--is poisoned and dies, reincarnated soon as a private detective out to solve his own murder. This set-up may sound an awful lot like that Chevy Chase/Benji comedy from the early-'80s, but those who give up on the picture early will be missing a treat. The writing is ticklish and pointed, and the sharp handling is sprightly and lyrical. Dick Powell is, as always, wonderful in the lead, matched by amusing Joyce Holden as his assistant (in her previous life, she was a horse). Sounds silly, but it works a special brand of wacky magic. *** from ****

One of the last of the "screwball comedies." Charming, rather than laugh-out-loud funny. A special treat for animal lovers. Silly, but played straight, this is one of those snuggle-by-the-fire-with-a-cup-of-cocoa (and your dog/s) films. Dick Powell returns to earth to sniff out his murderer, and he'll be dog-goned if he'll let the fellow get away. Yes; it's that bad/good. Cute asides and plays on words/visuals.

Interesting is that two of the leading characters appear in another (the BEST) "animal" film; Harvey.

I first saw this low-budget black-and-white film at the age of fourteen, promptly forgot the forgettable title, but never forgot the premise or the wonderfully waggish Dick Powell. Now, many years later I've remembered the title and managed to obtain a VHS copy from an online auction house, and as an adult in pretty good standing, I can report that it's still rather delightful.

The premise: "King," a German shepherd dog, inherits a fortune, is poisoned by a heartless villain, and his spirit is taken up to "Beastatory." There he asks for a chance to return to earth as a "humanimal" in order to clear up the circumstances surrounding his own death. His request is granted, and he is installed in a Film Noir-ish office as a salty private eye with the whimsical name of Rex Shepherd, accompanied by a Kentucky thoroughbred filly as his secretary Goldie (Joyce Holden).

The casting is exquisite. Dick Powell, though really quite a nice-looking actor, always struck me as having a slightly canine look; I believe he succeeded so well in private-eye roles partly because of the perception that he would doggedly "sniff out" the truth. The next-in-line heiress (Peggy Dow) is pretty and wholesome. The butler and the housekeeper are suspiciously sinister. The heiress's boyfriend is suspiciously affable. And a host of minor characters bear traces of resemblance to various breeds of dogs.

The whole family, from about eight years up, can enjoy this film on different levels. But you'd best like corn, and I don't mean popped.

6/10

I first saw this movie as a teenager on AMC during a lazy afternoon and it was an unexpected pleasure. When I read the brief summary of the movie, which read something like: "A murdered dog comes back to life as a man to hunt his killer," I actually expected a somewhat hard-boiled detective movie, despite the obviously outrageous premise. And I had no idea who Dick Powell was. The movie turned out to be very light-hearted and I was thoroughly entertained. Many light-hearted comedies of that era (early 1950s) make the mistake of just throwing in a lot of cute scenes and dialog and, though this movie does feature such scenes, it also has a lot of quite clever humor that keeps even the more cynical viewer satisfied. Even the murder mystery plot has intriguing aspects. The movie has a kind of fantasy atmosphere throughout that I really enjoy, and Dick Powell was never more likable than he is here. This role was perfect for him (unlike his earlier role in "Murder My Sweet"--see my review). I highly recommend it for good family fun.

In You Never Can Tell, Dick Powell got a chance to satirize his own new image as a tough guy private detective. He's certainly one of the most unusual private eyes that the movies have ever created.

If you didn't know it before, you know it now that animals have a soul and when they die they go to a place called Beastatory. That's what's happened to King when he gets poisoned by some nefarious forces who are after his money. That's right, his money. It seems as though King's inherited a fortune, the former member of the US Army's Canine Corps was left a multi-million dollar estate. This German Shepherd is now the envy of Rin Tin Tin.

In Beastatory when an animal hasn't lived a good animal life they have a most unusual punishment, they come back as humans, an interesting theological notion as I've ever heard. But King makes an unusual request to voluntarily go back and deal with his murderer. It's granted and he's even given a companion, a thoroughbred race horse who comes back as the girl Friday of the detective Rex Sheppard, that King becomes. Of course when he goes back he's now Dick Powell and the race horse is Joyce Holden.

Charles Drake and Peggy Dow are in this film as well, they were the romantic interest a year before in Harvey, the young psychiatrist and the nurse at the funny farm Josephine Hull was trying to stick Jimmy Stewart. The roles aren't quite the same in You Never Can Tell. Peggy Dow was a young lady of much promise who married and retired early after only a few films and the silver screen was the poorer for it.

Powell has some very funny moments especially when he can't quite shake his canine background as a human. But Joyce Holden really provides the most laughs in this film. Hysterically funny moment when she races to catch a bus she just missed. Holden probably broke the six furlong record at Aqueduct in that effort.

This is a very sadly neglected comedy I wish was shown more often. If TCM ever shows it, don't miss it.