Calling All Husbands

This is a crude remake of the Warner Brothers short "Life Begins At Twenty," that appeared in 1936 and starred Hugh Herbert. The earlier version is better. In Hugh Herbert, you can see the roots of Lou Costello (plus a big dash of Curly Howard). George Tobias, in this film, just lacks any comedic touch. And poor young George Reeves, stuck in another turkey.

A very pleasant way to spend just a little over an hour! Ernest Truex is excellent as the henpecked husband, the "hen" in question being the one and only Florence Bates. George Reeves is properly breezy and pleasant, and there are more great character players to enjoy including outstanding roles for a sour old Charles Halton, a slightly goofy John Alexander, an easily distracted Spencer Charters and good old Clem Bevans as a very irritating deaf judge. But the real star of the show is the often underrated Truex, a gifted actor of both comic and dramatic abilities. I especially enjoyed his little soliloquy as he goes through the paces of convincing himself it's OK to have a drink of hard cider!

All we hear from the mother character is how wonderful "Oscar" was and how much she regrets not marrying him. Well as Homer's life seems to fail expectations, "Oscar" returns but he is far from the perfect man that mom thinks he is. A great little short movie with the message that people rarely live up to the "perfect" memories you have of them.

While all of this is going on there is the often used sub-plot of young love in which the mother doesn't support her daughters choice of suitor. The daughter is in love with a low level co-worker of the father. The happy couple must convince the mother that they are right for each other and that the young man is able to make a success of himself someday.

Throw in a robbery, an old maid aunt who likes to stick her nose in everyones business and we have an original story that nicely comes together at the end.

An obvious adaptation of a stage play, it is nonetheless a very enjoyable movie. Milquetoast husband married to Bitchmaster wife is a mirror of some W. C. Fields movies. Watch for "Teddy" from "Arsenic and Old Lace" as the police inspector. And who could resist Superman as the leading man?

Mrs. Emmie Trippe dominates her nice husband Homer Trippe. In fact, she continues to bemoan her choice of Homer over another suitor named Oscar Armstrong. Their daughter Bette Trippe loves Dan Williams, but Emmie dismisses him as a clerk. Dan gives her an ultimatum and Bette agrees to get married. Homer answers the door and finds a tramp looking for something to eat. The tramp turns out to be Oscar Armstrong.

This starts as a functional family comedy. It's a time capsule of the 40's family dynamics. Oscar provides some opportunity for outrageous comedy. It does get a bit violent and crime centric. At least, this has some interesting turns although I would not change Emmie's entire personality for the final scene.