MartinHafer
As I watched this Jack Carson film, I couldn't help but think that it seemed very similar to many of Red Skelton's movies. This isn't a complaint...though I think Skelton might have handled this sort of material a bit better.Biff (Carson) is the Good Humor man in the film. He's a good natured doofus who never seems to actually make any money while making his rounds but this isn't what gets him into trouble. The problem is that he wanders into the middle of an apparent murder and soon cops all over town are looking for him. With the help of a bunch of kids (the WORST part of the film) he eventually manages to use a lot of slapsticky things to capture the baddies and prove himself innocent.While this was generally decent, the last portion was terrible...in fact, downright embarrassing. It seemed cheap, stupid and hollow at the end. It's a shame but it brought down the score from a 6 to a 4.
Robert J. Maxwell
Do they still make Good Humor ice cream, with those bells and the toasted almonds that I usually couldn't afford? Yum. There's a simulacrum that cruises around these New Mexico neighborhoods in the summer but it always plays La Cucaracha.I didn't sit through this beyond the first forty-five minute and maybe it gets better, turns into more amusing fare. It could hardly get worse for an adult.Don't make the mistake of confusing this with one of Red Skelton's better works during the same period. Skelton was a better comedian than Jack Carson. Some of the scenes in Skelton's movies, like "A Southern Yankee", were positively surreal. Buster Keaton was working as one of the gag writers.This film is aimed at younger sensibilities, those who read Captain Marvel comic books and who think it's funny when ice cream is smashed without adumbration into someone's face. Gee. Look at the chocolate running in streams down his cheeks.But, as I say, it may improve as the story unfolds. I doubt it.
Mister8tch
If you enjoyed the Stooges, you will get a hoot out of the last 20 minutes or so of this film, as every possible projectile, from musical instruments, to table saws, to baseball bats and the eventual pie fight, all come into play. It is what we paid 25 cents to see way back when. Carson and Albright have great chemistry, in fact, I would say that her role was so proactive as to almost claim her as an early women's libber! The film is dotted with character actors (yes, even George Reeves, our eventual 50's Superman), which only adds to the delight. A fun, nostalgic film, which reminded me of how I spent my Saturday afternoons once upon a time!
abimilech-1
I saw this movie several times on broadcast television during the 1960's. The opening scene of the stuck bells remains a truly classic moment, as are the references to the comic book fan club. There is a finely crafted mystery in the film. Carson's character is boyish and charming and appropriately dim-witted but lovable. The jackass adds a wonderful measure of fun.This film really needs to be printed on DVD for it is a great film, funnier than anything Abbott and Costello ever did. They just don't make good clean films like this anymore.By the way.. Good Times Video did release a VHS version of this classic film. apparently, fairly highly sought after as the lowest priced via Amazon.Com was $51.00 as of 2-6-07David Wilson
AD
