DKosty123
S J Perelman wrote the play this is based upon along with his wife Laura. While not household names now, they wrote for the Marx Brothers including perhaps the brothers funniest film, Horse Feathers. Here along with Edward G. Robinson, Jane Wyman, and Broderick Crawford along with a great supporting cast, this is a movie that very much reflects Horse Feather's as far as pacing.Robinson is great at comedies, as he did several of them and all of them are quite funny. He seems to have a straight face mobster type of character yet his timing is flawless for comedy. Crawford is more known as a cop in the 1950's Highway Patrol, but as con Jug Martin, he cuts it up pretty well with Robinson. Jane Wyman whose married to 3rd Husband Ronald Reagan at this point, is pleasant in this film. For Wyman this is already her 55th role in a busy career.The plot has to do with ex-cons planning to go from the basement of a luggage store underground to a bank vault and steal plenty of money. What happens instead is by accident and a lot of help they become successful businessmen on the up and up. The important thing here is the laughs with a great script and capable cast.
utgard14
Delightful comedy about ex-con 'Pressure' Maxwell (Edward G. Robinson) and his two pals (Broderick Crawford, Edward Brophy) who buy a luggage store so they can dig a tunnel in the basement to break into the bank next door. They hilariously have to keep up appearances by actually running the store. Soon they discover the store might be so profitable they don't need to break into the bank after all.Robinson's in rare form here. He was such a talented actor who was fantastic at both drama and comedy. The whole movie revolves around his character and his performance is nothing short of brilliant. Wait until you see the scene of him wrapping a customer's package. Backing him up are Crawford and Brophy, both of whom are excellent. Fun supporting cast includes Jane Wyman, Jack Carson, Harry Davenport, and John Qualen. Anthony Quinn plays the villain. Jackie Gleason has a bit part as a soda jerk. A really funny movie with lovable characters and a pleasant upbeat tone throughout. They don't make cute, genial comedies like this anymore. Definitely recommended! Oh and if you ever wanted to see Edward G. Robinson play catcher in a baseball game, you'll get your wish at the start of this movie.
moonspinner55
Very fast and very funny gangster-comedy from Laura and S.J. Perelman's play "The Night Before Christmas" features Edward G. Robinson as a just-sprung ex-con who finagles his way into becoming the owner and operator of a luggage store in New York City. Why? Because the National Bank is right next door...and its vault is just behind the cellar wall in Robinson's shop. Opening with a hilarious prison baseball sequence, the movie keeps rising higher with each new scene and eccentric new character, like a balloon you don't want to see pop. The dialogue is full of tickling, hard-boiled wit, and Robinson's cuddly cohorts-in-crime (Broderick Crawford and Edward Brophy) are absolutely wonderful. The picture doesn't have a mean-spirited thorn to quibble over, however the third act doesn't live up to the spirited lunacy of the rest--and the final tag jumps too far forward in time. Mostly a delightful enterprise, with a marvelous supporting cast including Jack Carson and Jane Wyman as would-be sweethearts. Woody Allen borrowed the basic premise in 2000 for his hit comedy "Small Time Crooks". *** from ****
jesusmariacastillo
This film is real hard , not just to get, but hardly ever's shown on t.v. The last time I saw it was about 15 years ago, man,I miss it,It's a shame, because this film will have you rolling in laughter for at least 3/4 of it. The Late Robinson and Crawford took their tough guys characters and turned them into the funniest you've ever seen ! This movie was made when entertainment WAS entertainment. There are no nude scenes, no foul or vulgar language. There is some shooting action, but the main story line here, is the chemistry between Robinson & Crawford. Around the 6th minute after the movie starts, when Robinson's telling Crawford that the warden's neck tie was the hardest to get from him , is hysterical , not to mention when their playing baseball in the prison's yard, or when they're digging a hole in the basement of the luggage store. This is pure clean comedy !
AD
