This will be of particular historical interest because a very young Betty Grable takes Dorothy Lee's place as the love interest of Bert Wheeler, framed for sticking up a society party along with his pal Robert Woolsey and sent to prison. Having just tried to sell some wacky novelties to Grable's warden pop Edgar Kennedy, the boys don't find themselves exactly welcome, especially when they knock the shackles of a prisoner who made an escape attempt that the duo accidentally nixed. In an odd twist, Wheeler and Woolsey end up football heroes as a part of the rivalry between Kennedy and the warden of another prison which results in a slapstick football game finale that utilizes some tricks seen in other Wheeler and Woolsey films later on.
Grable, obviously much younger than Wheeler, isn't billed in the main titles until the entire casts names are shown, but she gets a lot to do in the first of two films she made with the comedy duo. The top female billing goes to Edna May Oliver in the last of the three films she made with them, playing Kennedy's seemingly prim sister who is at first prickly towards Woolsey because of comments he makes about her looks. Unlike Margaret Dumont, however, with Groucho, Edna May can give as good as she gets, and she gets plenty of great lines in as well, especially at the expense of slow-burning brother Kennedy. What Oliver lacks in physical beauty she makes up in screen charisma, and here gets to do a little bit of sniffing with Woolsey at her side, sniffing just as much.
The football game finale is silly but has some very funny moments and to even imagine the two of them as gridirons is ridiculously funny. The comic highlight is Wheeler and Woolsey trying to sell Kennedy their various gags which includes the "finger locker" and a balloon that almost seems like something out of the Little Rascals. Most people will turn into see the very young Grable, but may come out of it with an appreciation for their wacky, innocent comedy, and the scene-stealing of the delightful pickle-pussed Oliver.
Grable, obviously much younger than Wheeler, isn't billed in the main titles until the entire casts names are shown, but she gets a lot to do in the first of two films she made with the comedy duo. The top female billing goes to Edna May Oliver in the last of the three films she made with them, playing Kennedy's seemingly prim sister who is at first prickly towards Woolsey because of comments he makes about her looks. Unlike Margaret Dumont, however, with Groucho, Edna May can give as good as she gets, and she gets plenty of great lines in as well, especially at the expense of slow-burning brother Kennedy. What Oliver lacks in physical beauty she makes up in screen charisma, and here gets to do a little bit of sniffing with Woolsey at her side, sniffing just as much.
The football game finale is silly but has some very funny moments and to even imagine the two of them as gridirons is ridiculously funny. The comic highlight is Wheeler and Woolsey trying to sell Kennedy their various gags which includes the "finger locker" and a balloon that almost seems like something out of the Little Rascals. Most people will turn into see the very young Grable, but may come out of it with an appreciation for their wacky, innocent comedy, and the scene-stealing of the delightful pickle-pussed Oliver.