Look Who's Laughing

A minor gem thanks to a clever script, fast-paced direction, and top radio stars of the day. Fibber McGee wants to locate a new aircraft plant in Wistful Vista, and gets Edgar Bergen to help him. The machinations fly fast and furious, along with a hair-raising finale where non-pilot McGee is at the controls of a twirling airplane. Everyone gets a turn at getting laughs, including Lucille Ball who already shows a flair for comedy along with a shapely leg. Then there's that blustery small-town blowhard Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve, who would soon star in his own movie series. Fibber's wife Molly also gets to do her little girl voice that's so amusing. But the real star is the inimitable Charlie McCarthy. I hate to say so, but after awhile I started thinking he was a real person. I expect he has that effect on a lot of viewers. Anyway, the movie remains a minor delight, and I don't think that's just nostalgia for the entertainment I grew up with.

Perhaps the audience for old radio comedy is dwindling, but those who enjoy Fibber McGee and Molly, The Great Gildersleeve, and The Chase & Sanborn Hour will get a kick out of this silly movie. It's a crossover story in which Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy accidentally crash their plane at Wistful Vista. An added plus: Lucille Ball as Bergen's love interest. An added added plus: Sterling (Winnie the Pooh) Holloway as a soda jerk.

I can't be sure what effect the movie would have on viewers unacquainted with the radio series...the only reason for the existence of the film is for fans to be able to SEE people whose voices they've come to love, saying the popular catch phrases from the shows. Imagine "Where's the Beef? - The Motion Picture!" ...well, it's not that dreadful, but almost as nonsensical for the uninitiated.

Lovers of cinematic weirdness will enjoy a bizarre aspect of the story: Dummy Charlie McCarthy is depicted as a living, independently mobile creature, with several solo scenes. You can kind of accept him sitting there talking, but the effect is pretty eerie when he moves around. A friend of mine found it so disconcerting she left the room.

No, radio characters often don't lend themselves to a visual medium, and this no exception.

Bergen and McCarthy look ridiculous. Bergen was always an obvious ventriloquist who kept moving his head to distract people from seeing his lips move so obviously. And then the worst, acting as if Charlie McCarthy is able to sit by himself and even answer the phone. Waaaaay better on radio.

Gildersleeve probably comes off better on screen than on radio because he's such a buoyant character to behold.

Lucy at the time was eye candy, and later it became harder to view her as so feminine.

Nevertheless, the audience of the day got to see people they loved for years. It was probably well worth it in the day. They likely suspended all of the shortcomings and came away feeling warm.

Holy guacamole, batman. Check out the comedy greats in this one! Neil hamilton was "the commissioner". Lucy. Edgar bergen. Jim and marian jordan, aka, fibber mcgee and molly, who had a huge radio show for twenty years. When edgar's secretary gets married, all heck breaks loose. Edgar and charlie end up in wistful vista, the home of fibber mcgee. Don't open the closet! They land right in the middle of a shady land deal between the town bigshot and a local businessman. Now the wedding may be off, and the mcgees might lose their house. Can they fix all this mess? Fun caper, moves along. Also keep an eye out for sterling holloway in the soda shop... he was winnie the pooh! And charles lane used to hold the record for the most bit parts in film... not sure if he still does. As silly as the story is, the whole point here is to see all the great comedians together in one film. Directed by allan dwan.

ALthough I gave this film only a 7 (because of the thin plot and trying to make Charlie into a solo character) it was a hoot to watch. Remember, humor was simpler back then and even spouses had to be shown sleeping in separate beds. To see Bergen and Charlie live along with other radio characters like Gildersleeves and Fibber and Molly (all three translating to the screen and a live performance just fine), spotting new young stars that later would go big time (like Ball and Holloway the soda jerk), and hearing not a swear word not seeing a risque scene was priceless. This was humor before it had to be off color. An added bonus was to hear Molly do the voice of the little neighbor girl from the Fibber McGee and Molly radio show. I never knew she was the one that did the voice. It is too bad Gildersleeves comes off as rather a cad on tv because he was much more likeable on his radio show. Want to HEAR more? Seek out Greg Bell on Sirius XM for old time comedy radio shows. We have lost a great deal when it comes to today's humor.