Pop Always Pays, 1940, from C and C Television Corp (?) IMDb lists this one as from RKO pictures, but the opening title card says C & C Television . According to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%26C_Group the C&C Group was actually a drink company which partnered with RKO Pictures. Selling alcohol and soft drinks, they would show ads for their products during the show. Sadly, the only name listed in the cast list that I recognize is Cecil Kellaway, and his part was CUT OUT! (he was Clarence, the angel, in "Its a Wonderful Life") The stars of the show are Leon Errol, who had started in silent films, Pamela Blake, and Dennis O'Keefe. Jeff and Edna are having money troubles, and always scheming a new way to get married and get ahead. SO much talking in this one... probably started out as a play. Some recurring gags, like the next door neighbors always borrowing things, and the dim-witted "Murphy". It's a pretty slow burner. Only 67 minutes, so its over pretty quickly. Directed by Leslie Goodwins. Written by Arthur Beckhard, who had written some of the Shirley Temple films.
4 Reviews
Sometimes funny, sometimes annoying
reve-217 February 2001
This movie is another one of those "tours de force" for Leon Erroll. He can, at times be a very funny man. Unfortunately, at other times, he is simply nerve wracking and annoying. IMHO it's split about 50-50 in this film. Erroll has promised his daughter and her fiancee that if the fiancee is able to save $1000, he will give them an additional $1000. But, for reasons that are never adequately explained and are rather far fetched, Erroll suddenly becomes cash poor and will not be able to come up with the additional $1000. Of course all of this leads to a series of deceptions and mix ups as Erroll frantically tries to obtain the money without having to tell his family of his financial situation. If you are a fan of Leon Erroll you will probably enjoy this picture. All others should be warned that there are several scenes that will test your' patience and your' nerves. BTW, the family maid and the next door neighbor are both extremely obnoxious and very grating characters.
If pop always pays, is it mom who hands him the bill?
mark.waltz1 April 2015
Warning: Spoilers
If you want dad to do anything, just ask him to do or accept the opposite. In the case of Leon Errol, he objects to daughter Pamela Blake getting married to the honest Dennis O'Keefe in spite of the fact that mom Marjorie Gateson approves. (Funny, it's usually the mother who disapproves...)
So how do you resolve this issue? Get pop to believe that mom is against it, that is until blabbermouth housekeeper Effie Anderson spills the beans. Pop eventually agrees to the marriage, promising $1000 to the bride and groom as soon as the groom to be makes $1000 of his own. Knowing this ain't about to happen, Errol goes along with the promise, but when mom pawns a valuable bracelet to loan O'Keefe the money, pop is guaranteed to loose....or is he?
While there are a few minor laughs, there are about as many as there are in one of Errol's two reel shorts. Tom Kennedy is very funny as a car reposessor who becomes the victim of O'Keefe and a fellow co-worker where he ends up loosing money every time they make some silly wager with him.
Walter Catlett plays Errol's neighbor, a user who keeps getting coffee, sugar and dinner from Errol's maid, thanks to Errol's own stupidity. This ends up being another one of many comedies where a know-it-all pop finds out exactly what he doesn't know, except one thing, that his wife, daughter and son-in-law to be are all much smarter than him.
So how do you resolve this issue? Get pop to believe that mom is against it, that is until blabbermouth housekeeper Effie Anderson spills the beans. Pop eventually agrees to the marriage, promising $1000 to the bride and groom as soon as the groom to be makes $1000 of his own. Knowing this ain't about to happen, Errol goes along with the promise, but when mom pawns a valuable bracelet to loan O'Keefe the money, pop is guaranteed to loose....or is he?
While there are a few minor laughs, there are about as many as there are in one of Errol's two reel shorts. Tom Kennedy is very funny as a car reposessor who becomes the victim of O'Keefe and a fellow co-worker where he ends up loosing money every time they make some silly wager with him.
Walter Catlett plays Errol's neighbor, a user who keeps getting coffee, sugar and dinner from Errol's maid, thanks to Errol's own stupidity. This ends up being another one of many comedies where a know-it-all pop finds out exactly what he doesn't know, except one thing, that his wife, daughter and son-in-law to be are all much smarter than him.
Padding Shows On Overblown Short Subject
redryan6421 November 2016
WE JUST SCREENED this RKO potboiler today. Prior to that time, we never heard of it; although star Leon Errol has been familiar to us for some time now. Back in the early 1970's, Chicago TV station, Channel 32, WFLD TV (Now a Fox subsidiary) would alternate the showing of RKO sound comedies that featured LEON ERROL with those in EDGAR KENNEDY's series on different afternoons.
THIS FEATURE WAS essentially an extension of the 2 reelers that Mr. Errol had done during that period; which both exploited the existing screen character & familiarity, but also provided a short "B" picture to fill out the then popular Double Feature packaging to movie house operators.
THE ADDITION OF an expanded cast did help to transform in l-e-n-g-t-h-e-n-I-n-g the story from 2 reeler to short feature. Those included were: Dennis O'Keefe, Pamela Blake, Marjore Gleason and (curiously) Erskine Sanford (late of CITIZEN KANE). Unbilled Frank Faylen as loan company clerk along with Tom Kennedy and Walter Catlett provide great foils for Leon.
THE PRINT THAT was run on Turner Classic Television (though distributed by Warner Brothers TV)was that bearing the umbrella title of "MOVIETIME USA". That was the name used by RKO circa 1958 when +C & C Television Corp." released hundreds of old RKO RADIO Pictures features to the local TV stations. Until recently, WLS TV Channel 7 ran many of these movies on their late night weekend schedules. These included mostly unknown and forgettable titles, but also the likes of KING KONG, THE INFORMER and even CITIZEN KANE!
THIS FEATURE WAS essentially an extension of the 2 reelers that Mr. Errol had done during that period; which both exploited the existing screen character & familiarity, but also provided a short "B" picture to fill out the then popular Double Feature packaging to movie house operators.
THE ADDITION OF an expanded cast did help to transform in l-e-n-g-t-h-e-n-I-n-g the story from 2 reeler to short feature. Those included were: Dennis O'Keefe, Pamela Blake, Marjore Gleason and (curiously) Erskine Sanford (late of CITIZEN KANE). Unbilled Frank Faylen as loan company clerk along with Tom Kennedy and Walter Catlett provide great foils for Leon.
THE PRINT THAT was run on Turner Classic Television (though distributed by Warner Brothers TV)was that bearing the umbrella title of "MOVIETIME USA". That was the name used by RKO circa 1958 when +C & C Television Corp." released hundreds of old RKO RADIO Pictures features to the local TV stations. Until recently, WLS TV Channel 7 ran many of these movies on their late night weekend schedules. These included mostly unknown and forgettable titles, but also the likes of KING KONG, THE INFORMER and even CITIZEN KANE!
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