Paulette Goddard always seems to be getting into trouble with the wrong man, and here, unable to pay a gambling debt, she is forced to become engaged to gambling house boss Fred Clark. Making a quick escape, she finds a private detective (MacDonald Carey) on her trail, hired by Clark to bring her back. This throw-back to screwball comedies of the mid 1930's isn't nearly as funny, starting off rather dark (almost a film noir) with Goddard involved in a rather repulsive situation with an extremely repulsive man (Clark). There are some excellent character performances, particularly by Percy Helton as a rather strange cookie whom Goddard tries to get to buy cigarettes for her, finding out that he would have no idea of how to try to deal with such a transaction. Carey and Goddard end up on the run where Goddard encounters a cow (and thinks its a bear) which ultimately leads to her turning to him for protection, bringing on predictable romance.
Of course, romance doesn't happen so quickly with her keeping on trying to get away and obviously denying her own growing feelings. Goddard, a truly capable comedienne, is too smart to play such a daffy, often dumb character who keeps taking risky chances and always looses. She had already played this type of character (a much smarter one) opposite Fred MacMurray in "The Forest Rangers" where at least she had chemistry with the leading man. The film keeps changing moods, at one point having Goddard almost burnt to death when she crashes a car after trying to escape from Carey. There is a very funny sequence where Goddard gets into a cat fight after being jailed following a gambling raid. One of Fred Clark's first films, he establishes himself as a character actor in mostly snarky parts, but was at his best when these roles involved more comedy. If it wasn't for the charm Goddard displays in spite of her character faults, this film would be definitely marked at a much lower rating.
Of course, romance doesn't happen so quickly with her keeping on trying to get away and obviously denying her own growing feelings. Goddard, a truly capable comedienne, is too smart to play such a daffy, often dumb character who keeps taking risky chances and always looses. She had already played this type of character (a much smarter one) opposite Fred MacMurray in "The Forest Rangers" where at least she had chemistry with the leading man. The film keeps changing moods, at one point having Goddard almost burnt to death when she crashes a car after trying to escape from Carey. There is a very funny sequence where Goddard gets into a cat fight after being jailed following a gambling raid. One of Fred Clark's first films, he establishes himself as a character actor in mostly snarky parts, but was at his best when these roles involved more comedy. If it wasn't for the charm Goddard displays in spite of her character faults, this film would be definitely marked at a much lower rating.