Annabel Takes a Tour

"Wonder Pictures" movie star Lucille Ball (as Annabel Allison) feels her career is in trouble after rival Francis Mercer (as Natalie Preston) eclipses her in popularity and becomes engaged to a nobleman. In spite of his mishandling her publicity in the recently released "The Affairs of Annabel" (1938), Ms. Ball insists publicist Jack Oakie (as Lanny Morgan) be rehired. Ball and Mr. Oakie go on a "Good Will Tour" to promote her new movie. This entry continues Ball's romantic interest in Oakie, which came out of nowhere in the earlier film, and adds courtly Ralph Forbes (as Ronald River-Clyde) to the mix...

Odd as it seems, Ball's dramatic movie characterizations were better than her comic roles during 1930s and 1940s. Her delivery is often very abrasive, and she sometimes seems like she might hurt one of the other actors, or herself; the "Lucy" character she developed on radio (1948) and television (1951) was more finely tuned. This was the second, and last, film in the "Annabel" series. The first one was better, with the time "Annabel" spent as maid to a family being most appealing. Here, hotel manicurist Alice White (as Marcella) is very funny, and grown-up Wesley Barry looks good in a walk on role.

**** Annabel Takes a Tour (11/11/38) Lew Landers ~ Lucille Ball, Jack Oakie, Ralph Forbes, Alice White

Jack Oakie and Lucille Ball are no Lucy and Desi, to be sure. But Jack Oakie evokes laughter without effort. This one is full of further hi-jinx of the ne'er do well starlet and her insane publicity man. Not great movies, but all of the Annabel flix are worthwhile watches because they are good, clean, honest fun. Oakie did others on his own for RKO, some of which are good ONLY because he's there. He did his share of clunkers, and sometimes he appears in films with material that I personally find objectionable. But on the whole, he's one of the funniest characters in film ( and good with drama !!). Obviously Lucy cut her comedic teeth in these films. She can only steal a scene from Oakie by taking pratfalls or by being the butt of jokes. I dig Oakie, Lucy, and the "Annabel" films.

Tired sequel to the uninspired Affairs of Annabel. It's more of the same with publicity agent Jack Oakie getting movie star Lucille Ball into wild stunts for the sake of publicity. All of the problems with the last movie are still here. Oakie is still annoying and not very funny. Lucy plays a smart woman who seems to lose all of her sense when Oakie suggests one of his stupid ideas. The movie starts off with Lucy demanding the studio head hire back Oakie, who was apparently fired between the first movie and this one. She keeps saying how he gets her good publicity, which contradicts the first movie. Then, almost as soon as he's hired back, she starts complaining about his schemes. The few positives of the last movie are still here, as well. Lucy is lovely to look at and she tries to make the most of the weak material. The supporting cast is an asset, including the great Donald MacBride. Lucy fans will enjoy this more than most. There aren't many laughs to be had but the likable cast makes it watchable.

A lackluster screenplay doesn't help this comedy about a movie star, Lucille Ball, whose publicity man, Jack Oakie, uses stupid schemes to get her name in the newspapers. Unfortunately, very little of the film is funny, but it was nice to see a very young Lucille Ball, even in black and white. Ball, Oakie, Bradley Page and Ruth Donnelly reprised their roles in this second and last film based on the characters created in the 1938 film "The Affairs of Annabel" by Charles Hoffman. There would have been more in the series, but Oakie wanted too large a fee for his services.

In "The Affairs of Annabel", Lanny Morgan (Jack Oakie) drives actress Annabel Allison (Lucille Ball) over the edge with his insane publicity stunts in order to make her even more famous. His antics were just awful and it makes you wonder why Annabel would ever work with this idiot again. However, in "Annabel Takes a Tour", Annabel is anxious to get Lanny back in her life. Most of the reason is that Annabel is frustrated when a small-time actress at the studio suddenly gets all the attention because she becomes engaged to a viscount. So, Lanny decides to get Annabel a viscount as well...or at least convince everyone she's carrying on with minor royalty. Unfortunately, he doesn't tell the Viscount he has in mind...nor does he tell Annabel...setting the stage for all sorts of complications.

Overall, this is a pleasant little diversion and not much else. A nice film...but one that isn't quite as good as the first...which, after all, is not a huge surprise.