So says Aldo Ray, one of three wise con-men in this Avant Garde black comedy. It's Christmas on devil's island and Ray, along with Humphrey Bogart and Peter Ustinov, escape from prison, and hide out in the shop of kind-hearted but broke Leo G. Carroll and Joan Bennett, finding themselves not only fixing the leaky roof but Christmas dinner as well, and eventually their lives. But along comes imperious cousin Basil Rathbone, miserly owner of the shop, and his handsome nephee (John Baer) who broke the heart of Carroll and Bennett's daughter Gloria Talbott because of his desire to get his hands on his uncle's money. It's up to the three crooked angels who have their own ideas of how to handle the nasty Rathbone.
Clever, dark and often very sweet, this is the type of film that will provide you with laughs even when you're shocked by the goings on. I was probably horrified by the convict's plans for robbing and killing Bennett and Carroll, but everytime they talk about it, they are delayed by a kindness they perform, such as stealing a live turkey for dinner, doing the dishes and dealing with the arrival of Rathbone and his son. The way they decide to deal with the nasty cousin is extraordinarily clever, not seen yet hysterically dealt with as the three men await for the inevitable. Bennett is still gorgeous, as far from her film noir femme fatale roles as she can be, while Carroll is of course as droll as ever. As for Rathbone, I can't think of anybody else who could play this part. He is the epitome of pompous cruelty yet extremely funny everytime he sneers or barks orders.
This is a very well written and clever comedy, directed with a brisk pace by Michael Curtiz. The color photography adds to the delightful atmosphere. Bogart, facing a health crisis around the corner, shows no signs of slowing down, and everyone seems to be having a blast. While this was remade in the 1990's, I'd be hard-pressed to watch it concerning how enjoyable the original is.
Clever, dark and often very sweet, this is the type of film that will provide you with laughs even when you're shocked by the goings on. I was probably horrified by the convict's plans for robbing and killing Bennett and Carroll, but everytime they talk about it, they are delayed by a kindness they perform, such as stealing a live turkey for dinner, doing the dishes and dealing with the arrival of Rathbone and his son. The way they decide to deal with the nasty cousin is extraordinarily clever, not seen yet hysterically dealt with as the three men await for the inevitable. Bennett is still gorgeous, as far from her film noir femme fatale roles as she can be, while Carroll is of course as droll as ever. As for Rathbone, I can't think of anybody else who could play this part. He is the epitome of pompous cruelty yet extremely funny everytime he sneers or barks orders.
This is a very well written and clever comedy, directed with a brisk pace by Michael Curtiz. The color photography adds to the delightful atmosphere. Bogart, facing a health crisis around the corner, shows no signs of slowing down, and everyone seems to be having a blast. While this was remade in the 1990's, I'd be hard-pressed to watch it concerning how enjoyable the original is.