Edward Everett Horton is a very strict judge who must learn how to lighten up when he is stranded at a roadside inn with an obvious bunch of criminal buffoons with his beautiful wife, Gladys George. He has just sentenced a career criminal to a very strict prison term, unaware of extenuating circumstances or at least refusing to even accepting them at the advice of prosecuting counsel. Fortunately, a special egg dish and a great amount of wine and champagne lightens Horton and his wife up, but that only opens up the opportunity for several of the crooks to plot to steal George's jewelry. They find Horton's briefcase and believe that a drawing of a bank safe indicates that he is an even bigger crook and thus make him their boss. he strives to teach them a lesson as a way of reforming them after enjoying their hospitality, but when Isabel Jewell, the mistress of the criminal Holm Horton had previously sentenced showed up, he is the one who ends up on trial.
There's a fun group song, "if you like me", which brings out Horton's lighter side. The supporting sast includes such familiar faces as Robert Armstrong, Jack LaRue, Lola Lane and Ruth Terry. The script mix has some very witty malapropisms in with tough talking dialogue that takes a turn with Horton's more sophisticated way of speaking. The art direction for the road house is fabulous, even if it does become a bit of a stage set sense of good 75% of the movie takes place there. This is one of Republic's better comedies with Horton delivering one of his finest performances. Its light-hearted way of showing a tone meant for everybody makes this truly memorable.
There's a fun group song, "if you like me", which brings out Horton's lighter side. The supporting sast includes such familiar faces as Robert Armstrong, Jack LaRue, Lola Lane and Ruth Terry. The script mix has some very witty malapropisms in with tough talking dialogue that takes a turn with Horton's more sophisticated way of speaking. The art direction for the road house is fabulous, even if it does become a bit of a stage set sense of good 75% of the movie takes place there. This is one of Republic's better comedies with Horton delivering one of his finest performances. Its light-hearted way of showing a tone meant for everybody makes this truly memorable.