Open with Charlie, Waldo and Irene Agnew
Aspiring bohemians three
Staying up late and acting artsy.
Just as they get going, they must get going
So bid Charlie adieu
Have to get home without sister knowing
What exactly they’ve been up to.
Margit Agnew, bossy sister in charge
Of her charge errant
Acts as she does, by and large
Because both lack a parent.
But the cat’s out of the bag
The butler did squeal
So Margit follows to nag
And their actions repeal.
A confrontation at Spike’s Place
Starts in earnest the romantic chase.
Meeting in the trailer minute
Charlie and Margit bargain
If he gives Irene the boot
Their posing sessions can begin.
Still acting snippy and irate
Pretending that the other they hate
They start to fall in love
Though of that only Charlie is admitting of.
Now start the hijinks and comedic schemes
Charlie claims the wedding is his and Irene’s
But to a few he does admit
That he plans to marry Margit.
And where’s Waldo you say
Why he’s on his way
And bringing with him yumph.
With all the lovers properly claimed
The wedding ends in a riot
I guess that violence on true love can be blamed
So perhaps we oughtn’t try it.
While it may at first seem out of character for the sophisticated William Powell to play the crazy bohemian, it actually kind of works. To me Powell has always straddled the line between debonair and nutty – especially the farther he got from the 1920s/early30s. It’s sort of similar to the way some view Cary Grant: suave with an underlying hint of danger. Well, William Powell is suave with an underlying hint of goofiness. A sort of goofball meets highball. This film merely places more of an emphasis on that element of his character. Actually, it also plays up Myrna Loy’s underlying character, which to me has always been rather snobbish.
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As to the charge that there is little to no plot, I don’t particularly agree. In fact I very seldom agree with accusations of lack of complex storyline equaling bad movie. How intricate does a plot really need to be? As long as there is some sort of movement and action it doesn’t matter if its as simple as boy loves girl, how do they get together. Even movies with no plots can have good writing, and some worthwhile moments. And in some ways this story line is rather reminiscent of a Shakespearean tale. In some ways.
And none of that is not to say this isn’t a amusing film with some funny moments. My favorite exchange (and visual) was the telephone gong gag. Seeing Powell rise up from the bed, and confusedly ask “who rang my gong” just tickles me every time.
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Final things to note: This was one of Sidney Toler’s last roles before becoming Charlie Chan. Even here he has a rather funny accent though. And the Oscar that clonks Powell on the head at the end could be a reference to the Oscar winning movie the previous year. It was the Great Ziegfeld and starred … William Powell and Myrna Loy.
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