He's a Cockeyed Wonder

Like many old films , source of nostalgia. Nice, amusing, far to be the top of filmography for actors but sweet for the mix of magic, robbery, an innocent orange tester and the daughter of his boss, for few special moments and, of course, for the skunk smell. Lovely chain of adventures and love, naif but comfortable, it is just sweet.

Fans of Mickey Rooney will enjoy this movie although its not one of his best. He appears a bit older than his girlfriend (the beautiful Terry Moore, 10 years his junior), but at times you don't notice it. He plays an orange tester who inherits his uncle's magic act (and Jimmy the Crow) and accidentally stumbles across a payroll robbery. There are some comical moments, especially when he is trying to learn the act as well as his interactions with Jimmy. But the picture is mostly to show off Moore in one of her first starring roles. Rooney's career unfortunately was going the other way. Luckily for his fans, the resilient Rooney never gave up and rebounded several years later.

Freddie (Mickey Rooney) is a sad loser. He's not a bad man, but he really is a hard luck sort of guy. Not surprisingly, his boss (William Demarest) isn't thrilled that his daughter (Terry Moore) is in love with Freddie and he'll do almost anything to stop their relationship. However, all this changes when he hears that Freddie just inherited his uncle's fortune. What no one yet knows is that the uncle left many debts and there isn't much money. Most of his 'fortune' consists of magician's props and Freddie is persuaded to try his hand at magic. After all, he's a failure at his job...and being a stage magician might just work out for this hard luck guy. But before he can try his hand at stage magic, he and his girlfriend are kidnapped by crooks. What's next for the pair in peril? Can Freddie EVER do anything right?!

This film is pleasant fluff...and that's NOT a bad thing. It features an enjoyable script and some nice acting....and is a nice picture if you could use a laugh.