Bert Wheeler was half of the comedy duo Wheeler & Woolsey...one of the most successful but mostly forgotten comedy teams of the 1930s. However, when Woolsey died at the height of their career, Bert went on to make a few films and shorts...but nothing like his earlier output. Tonight I found two shorts Wheeler made for Columbia in the early 1950s and of the two, "Innocently Guilty" is the blandest.
Bert plays a guy who wants to impress a prospective employer. But before going on his interview, Bert helps a pretty French neighbor with her plumbing and then he heads to see the man. However, it turns out that the guy wants to hire a vivacious guy....not a middle-aged man like Bert. But Bert convinces the man that he's a real ladies man and women love him. Unfortunately, the exploits he tells the man happen to be with the boss' wife! Bert and the boss don't realize this and Bert regales the guy with fictional stories about him and his sexy neighbor. Later, after Bert realizes the mistake, he gets into hot water when the lady gets trapped and dressless in the back of his car.
The humor in this one is just okay and it feels like just another Columbia short...which, generally, is not a great thing since they remade so many of their films...and this one is one of these remakes. Uninspired and not all that funny.
A bit later.
