Three Men on a Horse

In the 1930's Warner Bros. had a group of supporting players that they largely cast in the manic comedies that they did so well in those days. Three of those players - Frank McHugh, Guy Kibbee, and Joan Blondell - all show up in this often forgotten little film. What is so odd here is Joan Blondell, after several starring roles, is playing in support of Frank McHugh. McHugh had been an excellent supporting player in all kinds of Warner Bros. pictures for several years - an eccentric choreographer in Busby Berkeley's "Footlight Parade", a kind-hearted neer-do-well in the melodrama "Lily Turner", etc. However, here McHugh is the center of attention, and he handles it well.

Here Warners has managed to combine comedy with crime after the production code was in full effect with no danger of violating the code yet with great comic effect. McHugh plays a mild-mannered man who writes greeting card slogans and lives in a house on a street where every house looks the same. One morning, after a fight with his brother-in-law, he stops in at a bar rather than going to work. There he makes the acquaintance of three hoods who are trying to pick a winning horse without much success. The key to this new friendship is that McHugh has a gift for picking the winning horse in every race every day as long as he doesn't bet himself.

If you ever run across this film I strongly recommend it for an amusing way to spend eighty or so minutes.

Old black and white film pros Frank McHugh, Joan Blondell, and Guy Kibbee get together for a caper. we learn two things right at the start of the film: Erwin is GREAT at picking winners in the races. and erwin's brother in law is a pain, who yells and keeps interfering in Erwin and Audrey's marriage. when Charlie (Allen Jenkins) finds out that Erwin can pick winners, they kidnap Erwin and try to keep him locked up. Blondell is the good-hearted moll for the bad guys, and tries to help Erwin. it's silly and campy, and moves right along. Keep an eye out for Charles Lane.. he's the man who picks up the cleaning. for a while, he held the record for the most roles in films. Eddie Anderson (Rochesterrrr !) is in here as the elevator guy. the annoying brother-in-law (Paul Harvey) had worked with Bogart on FIVE films. it's pretty good, but the fake brooklyn accents get annoying after a while. funny scene where the elevator guy is in the room rooting for the winner with the rest of them. directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Gypsy, Wizard of Oz.

The film definitely has some dated elements...even some humor that in the 30's probably would have been great but today one shrudders at their use.

Nevertheless, the film is great -- Frank McHugh plays a rare principle (which is a travesty since he is extremely funny and steals practically every scene he is in). Allen Jenkins also appears, playing another great hood (but loveable) character that he is so good at.

Watch McHugh's mastery of slight mannerisms that make his shy character come to life.

Considering this sketch type comedy was released 82 years ago (almost a century ago) it still holds up very well for the millenium babies who should get a kick out of the fast paced and simple story line that even they can keep up with. I know what I speak of as we have three (3) millenials of our own who are more focused on their cell phones text, streaming instantly the latest on the huge facebook privacy breach that contains almost all of their personal information, and marching to the "no guns, no more" campaign.

This simple story has a hard working jingle writer by trade named Erwin Trowbridge (Frank McHugh) capable of picking the winner of each horse race as long as he only plays for fun and does not gamble with any of his own money. Three hard core race track gamblers soon realize that in Erwin Trowbridge they hold the "golden goose" and after each race won by Erwin Trowbridge picking the winner their greed becomes ever more prevalent but we the audience don't know when Erwin Trowbridge's luck may just run out.

Through one of the gansters' acquaintances named Patsy (Sam Levene) Erwin meets a cute blonde moll named Mabel (Joan Blondell) who sees the need to protect Erwin from her violent boyfriend Patsy who is hell bent on threatening his golden goose Erwin if he fails to deliver yet another winning horse as these three comedic and compulsive gambling goons keep doubling up on their bets and continue their win streak.

We the audience can sit back and enjoy this comedic cat and mouse game that continues between the innocence of Erwin and his three hostage holders who refuse to let their golden goose go home, and/or back to what Erwin does best which is writing jingles for a greeting card company. Erwin repeatedly says he justs wants to go home to his loving wife Audrey (Carol Hughes) who rewards Erwin's love by ordering an endless string of dresses and hats, although his pesky brother-in-law Clarence Dobbins (Paul Harvey) is always over at his house defending his little sister and calling Erwin derogatory names.

Erwin's innocence shines through all the troubles he is subjected to and we the fans want to see what poor Erwin will be subjected to next in this laugh fest door opening/door slamming slap fest comedy. If the internet ever goes down for a couple of hours Three Men On A Horse would be an enjoyable way for even millenials to spend a Sunday morning or afternoon. I give this fast paced comedy a good 6 out of 10 rating which is pretty good for a black and white comedy released some 82 years earlier.

It's very tame and dated, but there are still more than a few chuckles in this comedy concerning a young man (McHugh) who is having marital and work troubles and ties up with gangsters when they find he has the ability to predict winners at the horse racing track. LeRoy directs at a tight, fast paced clip. McHugh was arguably one of the funniest guys in Hollywood for many decades.