This is a low-budget Hal Roach short feature film (at only about an hour in length). In the mid to late 1930s into the 40s, producer Roach began to make less and less shorts (15 to 20 minutes) and began to make feature-length films averaging only about 60 minutes. Except for the TOPPER series, most of these films seemed to be only modestly successful and none of them were good enough to make up for the defection of Roach's #1 stars--Laurel and Hardy.
TURNABOUT has a wonderful idea for a plot, though it sure wasn't handled very well at times. It's a fantasy about arguing spouses who are given the opportunity to change bodies to see what life would be like from the other point of view. In a funny scene, the couple's statue (called "Mr. Ram") comes to life to say he's had enough and is tired of hearing them bicker--hence his telling them he can do the transformation. Considering he IS a talking statue, they believe him and the results are pretty funny. The problem is that the humor in th film just isn't sustained very well--there are too many sluggish sections and too many places where the laughs seem very corny and forced. Plus, the very best part of the film where the change occurs doesn't even come until about half-way through the movie! With a small re-write to pick up the pace and having the transference occur much sooner could have really helped this film. Fortunately, though, the film is unique enough and has enough bright moments that it is still worth viewing--especially if you wait until the very end--which is VERY funny to say the least!!
PS--While a funny joke, there is a very off-color joke about the KKK in the film! Given the era, this is more understandable but is one of the few times the Klan is mentioned in film ever and it also is pretty insensitive.
TURNABOUT has a wonderful idea for a plot, though it sure wasn't handled very well at times. It's a fantasy about arguing spouses who are given the opportunity to change bodies to see what life would be like from the other point of view. In a funny scene, the couple's statue (called "Mr. Ram") comes to life to say he's had enough and is tired of hearing them bicker--hence his telling them he can do the transformation. Considering he IS a talking statue, they believe him and the results are pretty funny. The problem is that the humor in th film just isn't sustained very well--there are too many sluggish sections and too many places where the laughs seem very corny and forced. Plus, the very best part of the film where the change occurs doesn't even come until about half-way through the movie! With a small re-write to pick up the pace and having the transference occur much sooner could have really helped this film. Fortunately, though, the film is unique enough and has enough bright moments that it is still worth viewing--especially if you wait until the very end--which is VERY funny to say the least!!
PS--While a funny joke, there is a very off-color joke about the KKK in the film! Given the era, this is more understandable but is one of the few times the Klan is mentioned in film ever and it also is pretty insensitive.