Gangster d'occasion

Bumbling bank teller Wilbur Meeley (Joe Penner) lets out the bank's secret vault to a gang of robbers casing the joint. He wins a trailer and pulls it home under his own power. His wife Carol (Lucille Ball) is no fan of the trailer and sends him to sleep in it. That night, the robbers come back for the vault. As they make their escape, they find and hook up the trailer pretending to be a family on vacation. Wilbur becomes the clueless prisoner of the gang. Carol reports him missing but the manager accuses Wilbur of being the one who stole the $50k.

I've never heard of Joe Penner who is a long forgotten vaudeville star during the Depression era. I can see his wacky voice being funny on the radio. As a movie lead, he's a bit schlubby. He's no leading man. He's more a comedic sidekick. The screwball comedy plot is a mess of convenient encounters and random connections. I'm not sure if it actually makes sense or that it matters. It gets more and more crazy. I actually admire the random sitcom plotting. The biggest aspect is of course Lucille Ball. She's a tall drink of water with a very unique voice. She has her moments even as a side character. She's kinda pretty and can really work her comedic face. This is not necessarily laugh out loud today although I can see the audience of yesteryear having a good time.

The writing was bland and the characters weren't funny at all. A road trip comedy with potential but fell flat. Wilbur's character to me was trying to imitate the three stooges. As much as I love Lucille Ball I'd skip this one.

The teaming of zany Joe Penner and Lucille Ball might incongruous to many the two actually make this RKO comedy work. Though how Lucy ever got hitched to Penner will be one of life's mysteries.

Penner is a dumb as a brick bank clerk who spills the beans on his bank's security measures. When its robbed Penner is thought of as an inside man. Not only that, wouldn't you know it the bank robbers hitch their getaway car to Penner and Ball's new trailer which they just won in a contest. Penner's asleep inside and soon enough the three crooks discover they have a hostage if needed.

Then to Top it all off Penner and the crooks get involved with June Travis who is running away from home to marry Fritz Feld, a no account phony count from some mittel Europa country. And Lucy hooks up with Feld rushing to claim his bride.

The laughs come fast and furious inthis comedy although Penner is something of an acquired taste. He died young and who knows how he might have done on television.

Tom Kennedy who matches Penner in wit and IQ is always a favorite. One of the dumber crooks and/or cops on the big screen when he's on the other side. He's my favorite here.

Lots of laughs in this ancient chestnut.

Silly but amusing comedy built around radio comic Joe Penner as a stupid bank clerk who becomes involved in a bank robbery when he wins a trailer in a lottery. Some good gags - I like the one where Joe pulls up to a gas station with the trailer and no car - and able support from people like Lucille Ball as Joe's wife, and Friz Feld as a fortune hunting Casanova, make this a breezy way to spend 70 or so minutes. Pity other more "important" pictures weren't as enjoyable.

While this may not be the greatest movie ever, it is a lot of fun to watch. Joe Penner is hilarious, and Lucille Ball is also great. It's too bad Mr. Penner had to die so young, he was a bit of a comic genius. If you like good clean family fun, then this is a movie not to be missed.