Beg, Borrow or Steal

Pre -world war II film (for the U.S., anyway). Frank Morgan made a bunch of fun, light, caper films in the 1930s and 1940s; this one was just a couple years before The Wizard! When a young couple gets married, they end up taking up her dad's offer to hold the wedding at his fancy chateau in europe. the only trouble is, dad doesn't HAVE a chateau. and is quite the fraud. with the guests on the way, he needs to find a chateau pronto! it turns out Dad is only lying when his mouth is open. the more he talks, the deeper the trouble. the kids' marriage itself is secondary to Dad's antics. a typical Frank Morgan adventure. perfect training for playing the Wizard of Oz! come along for the wild ride. he gets everyone into trouble... can he get them back out? Directed by Bill Thiele. had started in germany but had to leave with hitler coming to power. in the US, he was a proponent of Dorothy Lamour, who was a huge hit, and she made a bunch of films with Bob and Bing! good silly fun, if you go along for the ride.

Frank Morgan plays a con man who plies his trade along the French Riviera. When his estranged daughter plans to marry, he suggests the ceremony take place at his chateau. The mothers of the bride and groom accept his offer, but he doesn't own a chateau. This is a comedy of mistaken identities and the strong cast does a fine job . Florence Rice, in particular, is believable as the bride-to-be who becomes the apex of a love triangle.

Wilhelm Thiele directs this comedy adapted from a short story with warmth.

TiVo and TCM have a window that pops up, giving this one star. Why? That's for BAD films. This is quaint and clever. Want to waste your time with a good old-fashioned 30's comedy of errors and other shenanigans? This is that film. Yep, a B-movie that holds its own. The character actors are all good, there are genuine laughs, and a (predictable) plot that holds it all together. Most of us have not seen Frank Morgan in anything other than 'Wizard of Oz'. He plays a similar- enough role here so that you'll feel at home. I have to say I am paying more attention to TCM the older I get, lol. The junk that they spew out at the multiplex just to fill it up is depressing. Let's all support the good old days of 1930's films. Enjoy!

The main reason to see this film is the familiar supporting cast.We have Reginald Denny,Vladimir Sokoloff,E.E.Clive,Erik Rhodes and Herman Bing to name but a few.When they are on screen this film lights up.When they are off you just have to sit through a film which is rather to familiar in the clichés that it employs.These actors typify the Golden Age of Hollywood.It is just a great shame that their like no longer seem to exist,or if they do they do not appear in films.Frank Morgan gives his usual stylish performance.The juve leads are typical of the era and eminently forgettable.Worth a look if the supporting cast interest you.

Con-artist Ingraham Steward (Frank Morgan) invites his estranged daughter to Europe to be married in his non-existent chateau on the French Rivera. Much to his chagrin, she accepts. As 'false identity' comedies go, this one is pretty good. Morgan is excellent as the father trying to make good on his offer and an early 'reveal' makes the whole farce a little less implausible. The funniest characters in the film are Ingraham's clique of 'international' conmen (posing as various Counts, Lords, etc) and the scene where they solemnly enter the chateau accompanied by 'culturally appropriate' music is hilarious. Other highlights are the scenes in which a real Lord (E.E. Clive) arrives at the chateau, only to be mistaken for another grifter and given instructions on how to behave in a Lordly fashion. As betrothed daughter Joyce, Florence Rice is fine and as soon as we meet her stiff, bland fiancée Horace (Tom Rutherford) we know that true love must await in France. The last-minute resolution to her romantic dilemma is deftly handled and the film ends exactly as expected - happily. Good fun from another era.