Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone

Mrs. Hattie O'Malley (Marjorie Main) wins a radio contest for $50k and a trip to New York City. On the way there, she meets cash-strapped Chicago lawyer John J. Malone (James Whitmore). His client Steve Kepplar has just been released from prison and still owes him $10k. Kepplar supposedly stole $100k and the money is still missing. Everybody is looking for him or most specifically, for the money.

I would want Hattie and John to team up sooner and more consistently. It does turn into a fun screwball Weekend at Bernie situation. It's silly although it could get even more ridiculous. It's a solid duo.

The original story that inspired this film -- "Loco Motive" -- was a collaboration between Craig Rice and Stuart Palmer, featuring her alcoholic Chicago lawyer detective, John J. Malone, and his New York old-maid schoolteacher sleuth, Hildegarde Withers; it was the first of several stories (collected as "The People vs, Withers and Malone") teaming the two, generally in ways calculated to enrage and/or frustrate Malone's Chicago nemesis, Captain von Flanagan or Hildie's long-suffering New York Homicide detective, Inspector Oscar Piper.

Presumably because of rights issues -- money, perhaps, though this could have been during the time that Palmer (due to a divorce settlement) was intentionally making as little money as possible -- The Miss Withers part was rewritten to eliminate her.

It wasn't till some time later that an attempt was made to bring Hildie to the screen on TV, embodied in the formidable person of Eve Arden.

Other than disappointing fans of Miss Withers or of the original story in and of itself, this is a decent enough film of it.

James Whitmore and Marjorie Main made an interesting pair of sleuths of convenience as Whitmore an ambulance chasing criminal attorney and Main a radio contest winner wind up as allies on a train from Chicago to New York chasing a deadbeat client who owes Whitmore his fee.

The defendant is an embezzler and he's also thought to have the loot with him. Main and Whitmore find him though, very dead in Whitmore's compartment. Now the task is to find his murderer before the deceased is found.

Such various and sundry folk as an ex-partner Don Porter, an ex-wife Ann Dvorak, a secretary Phyllis Kirk are also on the train and a Chicago PD detective Fred Clark with his patented slow burn, the best this side Edgar Kennedy. And other passengers any one of whom could have been an unknown associate.

Main was at her raucous best and Whitmore seems to model his character on some of Pat O'Brien's fast talking types from the 30s. In fact O'Brien would have been good casting next to Main.

From MGM's B picture unit this was enjoyable mand unpretentious comic film.

The script lags at times but it is full of fun lines. Despite its flaws there are a quite a few laugh out loud moments - mostly thanks to the cast.

It is an all star cast full of some comedic talents as well as some very lovely ingenues. James Whitmore is a fine actor but I don't think he was a master of comedy.

The real shame is Ann Dvorak isn't givem much to do. She was a fun comedienne at the height of her talent at this point.

If you enjoy silly old fashioned fun and quirky characters I think you will enjoy this. If you ignore some of the script's flaws you can enjoy this as an undiscovered jewel.

If you can't appreciate the quirky offbeat humor of the late 1940's-1950's then you will not be watching this but if you are looking for a fun off beat escape this will have you longing for some Ma and Pa Kettle!!

From start to finish Whitaker's role is of an obnoxious attorney whose "malpractice" produces an onscreen request for disbarment even before we meet his character.

This storyline is totally unbelievable but isn't that what makes comedies the funniest? There's a fun assortment of real "characters" whose connection with the main characters leads to mayhem and more.

There are mysteries to be solved and relationships to figure out with laughs throughout.

It was well worth the time .. pure 50's fun that I bet my parents totally enjoyed back in the day.