User Reviews

The usual MGM gloss is applied in a different way to this comedy programmer as no expense is spared in making sure that the many roles are filled with good character comedians -- many of whom would later find employment as comedy ethnics in Preston Sturges' stock company. The plot, such as it is, involves an Italian barber in New York who buys a winning ticket in the Irish Sweepstakes. Leo Carillo is warm and funny in the lead, even if the redoubtable Louise Fazenda is largely wasted playing straightwoman as his wife. Luis Alberni gets a sizable funny role. Ted Healy is annoying, as usual.

The script is credited to Robert Pirosh based on a story by George Seaton -- the latter's second movie credit. It's not a great movie, but it is very pleasant.

Jimmy Powers is in love with Mary Tomasello. His rich banker father forbids their relationship due to her father being a lowly Italian-American barber. Joe Thomasello buys a sweepstakes ticket despite his disapproving wife Nora. It wins $150k, but it goes missing after Joe gives it to Tony. Now, they have to find it.

This is an MGM comedy. The initial setup is a Waspy banker going against a working class immigrant. They should probably get rid of the banker part. I wouldn't mind seeing some early cinematic Italian family. Other than the yelling and a bad accent from Joe, I don't know if they are Italian enough. They certainly wouldn't throw in any Italian phrases unless "Salomi" is Italian. The comedy is a bit bland, but I'm sure it's fine for its time. Mostly, I like the simple nice Joe character. It's a funny bit with the grown men talking to the infant. There are no big laughs, but there is some light fun.

A silly, lighthearted comedy made nearly unwatchable by the sustained level of shouting from start to finish. In an effort to hammer home the whole "Italian immigrant" flavor of the story, every character seems to have been given instructions to shout/yell/holler their lines three inches from each other's faces, while stomping and gesticulating wildly. I had a headache about 10 minutes in, and a full blown migraine by the end.

Leo Carillo plays the lead as Joe. He has some funny lines, punctuated by some charming facial expressions - a glimmer of what this comedy could have been. Try as he might, he can't contain the mess, as Luis Alberni (as cousin Tony) boils over and then proceeds to scorch the pot dry with his obnoxious, high-volume clowning. Not to be outdone or upstaged, virtually ever other actor follows suit.

Not surprisingly, Ted Healy brought an antagonistic, sour note to the cacophony. Louise Fazenda's quirky talents were unused, somewhat sadly.

Get your aspirin and earplugs ready for this one.