The Nuisance

Versatility is an attribute in any performer, but so is doing one thing exceptionally well. Perhaps if Lee Tracy's screen career had not met a premature, unfortunate ending, he and his public would have felt a need for him to play something other than the kind of role which he performed with such natural ease and remarkable skill: the brash, fast-talking, wisecracking, slithery, finger-jabbing, opportunistic, less than trustworthy (to put it mildly) rascal. As a tour de force, this picture ranks with his best, even if there may be more twists and turns of the plot than the story requires. Though Frank Morgan's poignant portrayal of an alcoholic doctor is not an altogether comfortable fit here, and Tracy's explanation of his loss of youthful ideals too pat to be convincing, the movie is consistently entertaining, with fine performances by all the supporting players aiding and abetting another memorable star turn by Lee Tracy.

I'd seen this before but was still knocked out by it. This holds true for "The Half-Naked Truth" too. To my great surprise it does not, for me, with "Blessed Event." The first time I saw that, I couldn't believe its brilliance. The second time, several years later, it still looked good but packed no real punch. (Tracy is also excellent in "Bombshell" with the sensational Jean Harlow and, decades later, in "The Best Man.") This movie is funny, starting, and touching. It moves with ease from one of these to another. Frank Morgan, another extremely versatile performer, is very touching as the alcoholic doctor who works with ambulance-chasing lawyer Tracy on his schemes.

All the supporting cast is good, with special mention given to Charles Butterworth as floppy, the con many who was faking being hit by cars before Tracy meets up with him again and will probably be doing it till he finally really does get run over.

J. Phineas Stevens is THE NUISANCE, an ambulance-chasing, authority-defying, woman-ogling lawyer. Pushy & loud, he's the first at the scene of any accident, handing out his cards & demanding his clients' rights. Both charming & crooked, Stevens usually wins his court cases with street smarts & trickery. But now his powerful legal adversaries have baited a trap, using a very pretty young woman as a spy, to catch Stevens while up to his old tricks.

Lee Tracy was perfectly cast in the title role of this fun, forgotten film. With his energetic, go-get-'em, in-your-face acting style, always mixed with a hint of the shady character, Tracy was ideal as talent agents, reporters or shyster lawyers. With his new stardom cemented at Warners, Tracy arrived at MGM in 1933 and immediately appeared in 5 films. He was well on his way to becoming a major star, MGM's answer to Cagney, when he had a spectacular fall from grace in 1934. He spent most of the rest of his career at minor studios, never reaching his full potential. Today he is all but forgotten, but those fortunate enough to see his films find him to be one of the most refreshing & enjoyable movie actors of the early 1930's.

Here, Tracy receives good support from his co-stars: beautiful love interest Madge Evans, a girl with a secret; Charles Butterworth, funny as an accident faker; Samuel S. Hinds, John Miljan & David Landau as Tracy's enemies; Greta Meyer & Herman Bing, hilarious as an amorous Teutonic twosome. Virginia Cherrill has a tiny part as one of Tracy's alluring clients. Movie mavens will spot Nat Pendleton as a street car guard. And Frank Morgan is nothing short of wonderful as the pathetic old alcoholic doctor who loves Tracy like a son and helps him with his schemes.

Crooked lawyer Stevens always seems to be on the scene first, and talks the victim into suing someone for a huge amount of money. And his flam flam of a doctor Prescott (Frank Morgan) goes along with it and comes up with the phony diagnosis. Madge Evans is Dorothy, his latest case. After losing so many cases to Stevens, the streetcar company decides to start fighting back. And Dorothy isn't who she seems to be! Charles Butterworth is in here as a falling down con man, and of course he knows Stevens. We follow Stevens around as he tries one caper after another. It's silly, but kind of fun. Even a hitler joke, and this was only 1933. Directed by Jack Conway. No oscars, but he sure worked with some biggies: wallace beery, jean harlow, the barrymores. Butterworth always looked older, but actually died young at 49.

Lee Tracy is excellent as a shady lawyer who recruits clients at accident scenes. When possible, he reaches the scene moments ahead of the ambulance; when necessary, he arranges the accident itself. Swooping in, he informs his clients what their injuries are, whisks them off to the hospital, and lines up personal injury lawsuits that range from dubious to downright phony and are driving the insurance company crazy. What can they do to stop him? Insurance man John Miljan has a plan….

Madge Evans is an accident victim who willingly falls in with a Tracy scheme—and it's as we are getting to know her character that the plot takes a welcome and exciting turn. Evans has the most developed and difficult role here; the question of which side she is on is one that not even she is sure she can answer.

Frank Morgan is outstanding but rather sad as a doomed alcoholic doctor who assists Tracy in his schemes. Charles Butterworth is sidekick and right hand man "Floppy," a professional accident victim who joins Tracy's team.

The dialog flies past, especially when Tracy delivers it; he's dashing, deceitful, villainous, charming—it's a larger than life character and Tracy fills the role perfectly. Overall, the picture is somewhat less than totally believable…but it's a lot of fun to watch and follow along.