That Rascal

Harry Barris and Audrey Ferris want to get married, and her father, Harry Holman, likes Barris' piano playing. However, he hates it when Barris sings songs like "I'll Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal, You".

Barris, like Bing Crosby, came out of the Rhythm Boys, and was a popular singer and composer in the 1930s, but his movie career was nowhere near as successful. For one thing, he didn't wear a hairpiece, and for a second, he had nowhere near as easy-going a demeanor on screen. In the shorts he appeared in for Al Christie, he played a rather frenetic fellow, but it wasn't enough to sustain a career as a movie star, so he had to be content with a successful recording career, and composing songs like "I Surrender, Dear."

At the same time Paramount Pictures was trying to build Bing Crosby into a big-time actor through their short films, they also tried the same with Harry Barris. Both were successful on the radio and in clubs but Barris' shorts, at least the ones I've seen, were not especially good....and part of it was due to his singing. He just didn't sound as good as Crosby and the plots in his films weren't especially good. "That Rascal" didn't especially impress me.

Audrey is dating Harry Barris and is a bit worried about introducing him to her father. However, when she hears from him that he LIKES Barris' singing, she's eager to introduce them and let Daddy know that they plan on marrying. But what she and Harry don't know is that one of Harry's songs he sings on the radio is a song Daddy also HATES....and he becomes very hostile when he hears "I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You" (a song NOT written by Barris). What will happen when and if Daddy learns the truth?

The film has very few laughs and Barris just doesn't come off very well. Overall, an easy film to skip.