SYNOPSIS: Based on a real-life incident when Jim Caffrey of Wakefield, Rhode Island, correctly identified Louis B. Mayer as the "mystery voice" on the "Sing It Again" radio show. Jim won $24,000 in prizes which turned out to cost him more than they were worth!
COMMENT: Rather a jolly essay into the world of radio hucksterdom with James Stewart perfectly cast as the put-upon recipient of $24,000 worth of mainly useless prizes.
It's true that the satire might have been appreciably sharper. The film tends to fall off in its latter stages and lacks the tension and tautness that is so admirably achieved by clever acting and adroit film editing (as well as well-judged camera angles) prior to and during the actual winning of the prize. And this despite the considerable handicap of the audience's knowing that the win is a foregone conclusion!
An interesting supporting cast adds to the fun, especially Lyle Talbot's delightfully obsequious and cliché-spouting rival; Fred Clark's gruff and sarcastic store-owner; and the glorious succession of invaders spear-headed by the postman and Alan Mowbray, and climaxed by Fritz Feld bashing into the piano. Both Stewart and Fred Clark take some extraordinary tumbles without benefit of doubles too. Barbara Hale is well cast as Stewart's wife. No attempt is made to over-glamorize her and in some scenes she appears almost dowdy - a commendably realistic touch.
However, we could probably have done without that old chestnut routine of a complication involving Patricia Medina as an attractive portrait painter (she only seemed mildly attractive to us anyway).
The film has been realized on an extensive budget with no pennies spared on the number of meticulously dressed sets. Both art direction and photography have opted for a realistic style rather than over-elaborate dream factoriness.
Lang has directed with his usual competence. Some scenes could have been more imaginatively staged but by and large Lang is content to leave things to his players. They manage supremely well despite some shortcomings in the dialogue. Most of Mowbray's lines are rather lacking in sharpness and wit and tend to be inconsequential but he hands in a capable performance even though it is, disappointingly, not one of his most inspired. Child star Natalie Wood shows little of her latter-day potential whilst Tommy Rettig is atrociously wooden and unconvincing, especially when up against the pat professionalism of Stewart and Hale.
The costumes are nothing to rave about - admittedly some are supposed to look dull (which they do) but those which are supposed to look attractive are not. Well, not particularly anyway.
Except for the clever impersonations on the radio program, the music score is quite nondescript. But production values benefit from a little location work in Chicago (filmed by an uncredited 2nd unit team without any of the actual players). Process shots are accomplished and film editing deft.
Whether fans will like what Fox has done to Barbara Hale is another question. Whilst all the other cast members have been accorded the usual slick Hollywood treatment, Barbara has been made up to look suitably dowdy and domesticated.
COMMENT: Rather a jolly essay into the world of radio hucksterdom with James Stewart perfectly cast as the put-upon recipient of $24,000 worth of mainly useless prizes.
It's true that the satire might have been appreciably sharper. The film tends to fall off in its latter stages and lacks the tension and tautness that is so admirably achieved by clever acting and adroit film editing (as well as well-judged camera angles) prior to and during the actual winning of the prize. And this despite the considerable handicap of the audience's knowing that the win is a foregone conclusion!
An interesting supporting cast adds to the fun, especially Lyle Talbot's delightfully obsequious and cliché-spouting rival; Fred Clark's gruff and sarcastic store-owner; and the glorious succession of invaders spear-headed by the postman and Alan Mowbray, and climaxed by Fritz Feld bashing into the piano. Both Stewart and Fred Clark take some extraordinary tumbles without benefit of doubles too. Barbara Hale is well cast as Stewart's wife. No attempt is made to over-glamorize her and in some scenes she appears almost dowdy - a commendably realistic touch.
However, we could probably have done without that old chestnut routine of a complication involving Patricia Medina as an attractive portrait painter (she only seemed mildly attractive to us anyway).
The film has been realized on an extensive budget with no pennies spared on the number of meticulously dressed sets. Both art direction and photography have opted for a realistic style rather than over-elaborate dream factoriness.
Lang has directed with his usual competence. Some scenes could have been more imaginatively staged but by and large Lang is content to leave things to his players. They manage supremely well despite some shortcomings in the dialogue. Most of Mowbray's lines are rather lacking in sharpness and wit and tend to be inconsequential but he hands in a capable performance even though it is, disappointingly, not one of his most inspired. Child star Natalie Wood shows little of her latter-day potential whilst Tommy Rettig is atrociously wooden and unconvincing, especially when up against the pat professionalism of Stewart and Hale.
The costumes are nothing to rave about - admittedly some are supposed to look dull (which they do) but those which are supposed to look attractive are not. Well, not particularly anyway.
Except for the clever impersonations on the radio program, the music score is quite nondescript. But production values benefit from a little location work in Chicago (filmed by an uncredited 2nd unit team without any of the actual players). Process shots are accomplished and film editing deft.
Whether fans will like what Fox has done to Barbara Hale is another question. Whilst all the other cast members have been accorded the usual slick Hollywood treatment, Barbara has been made up to look suitably dowdy and domesticated.