A meek & mild fellow, with the uncanny knack of picking winning race horses, is taken in charge by a trio of racketeering gamblers.
Fast-moving & fun, THREE MEN ON A HORSE is another example of the comedy crime picture that Warner Bros. was so expert at producing in the 1930's. Casts & plots could be shuffled endlessly, with very predictable results. While this assembly line approach created few classics, audience enjoyment could usually be assured.
Frank McHugh & Joan Blondell are both well cast in the lead roles, especially Brooklyn-accented Blondell with her unsophisticated charm & pert blonde looks. Interesting thing about the screenplay is that there is absolutely no romantic development between McHugh & Blondell. He remains true to his dimwitted spouse Carol Hughes, while Blondell carries the torch for her bad guy boyfriend Sam Levene.
The rest of the cast is excellent. Guy Kibbee appears as McHugh's bad-tempered blustery boss. Plain talking Allen Jenkins & excitable little Teddy Hart play Levene's gang members. Slow-burning Edgar Kennedy has a good role as the bartender who wants to use McHugh's talents to finance his early retirement. Obnoxious Paul Harvey does very well as McHugh's bullying brother-in-law.
In smaller roles, Eddie Rochester' Anderson scores as a gambling elevator operator; Harry Davenport has one tiny scene as an employee in a greeting card publishing house; and Eily Malyon plays a stern maternity ward nurse. Movie mavens will recognize an unbilled Charles Lane playing a laconic laundry man.
