Trois Hommes sur un cheval

Henpecked at home and work, Frank McHugh has a hobby of working out which horse is going to win a race. He never bets. But when he falls into the hands of Sam Levene and his crew, he offers them a sure thing.

It's based on a successful George Abbott play, with Levene (in his screen debut) and Teddy Hart repeating their stage roles. Director Mervyn Leroy barely opens it up for the movies, but stocks the ast with some prize players: Joan Blondell tawkin' outta the side of her mout', Edgar Kennedy as a bartender who gets in on the action, Guy Kibbee as McHugh's boss, Paul Harvey as his overbearing brother-in-law, along with Eddie Anderson and Harry Davenport in smaller roles. If you're looking for the stage play, this isn't a bad version, but on the screen, it comes off as too stagey, and McHugh's wimp isn't much fun as the center of the storm.

This movie at least has a plot and is funny. The only question not answered was why the hero was in the hotel drunk. This would be a great movie to remake for those who love comedy. The only problem with it is the set and that it was made in 1936 before we quit being entertained by the plot instead of special effects. Throw a few special effects in and the movie would be a real winner. For those who like old movies, this is a winner.

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.

In adapting Three Men On A Horse for the screen Jack Warner took a big chance in not having one of his box office leads headline in this film. Instead Three Men On A Horse remains pretty faithful to the Broadway play and gives some of the character people under contract at Warner Brothers a chance to shine on their own. I don't know about you, but personally I like these kind of films where all these performers with a particular shtick get to outdo the other.

The nominal lead is Frank McHugh and it seemed like either he or Alan Hale appeared in every Warner Brothers production of consequence for a while. McHugh plays the typical henpecked milquetoast who does poetry for greeting cards for a living and grossly underpaid for his originality and he has a genius at doping out winning horses. But that's only a hobby, he never bets himself.

But when Damon Runyon like characters Sam Levene, Teddy Hart, and Allen Jenkins find out about his 'hobby' one night in the Hotel Lavalliere Bar, these three gibbronis decide to ride along on a winning thing. They kidnap the poor schlimiel, but treat him ever so gently and cater to his whims which aren't all that much. Along for the ride are Joan Blondell as Levene's girlfriend, Eddie Anderson as the hotel porter and elevator operator and Edgar Kennedy the bartender.

But there's more than that here. Frantically looking for McHugh who's disappeared is his wife, Carol Hughes and his boss Guy Kibbee. And also on the scene is McHugh's brother-in-law Paul Harvey who doesn't think much of him. Actually Harvey's blowhard character is my favorite in this film.

Amazingly enough it all kind of works out for McHugh in the end. But you have to see the film to find out. And I mean HAVE to see the film which is a real treat with some of the best character players ever on screen in the golden age of the studio system all in one film.

And no big stars to get in their way.

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.