What the title suggests is far from what the film truly is all about. The title suggests either another "Lost Weekend" or a comedy about a man making a fool out of himself humorously while intoxicated. What it really turns out to be is a well-intended comedy/drama about a man suffering from memories of the war (his best friend died in his arms while overseas) and dealing with the assumption that because he gets intoxicated just by smelling liquor (having almost drowned when trapped in a monastery up to his neck in six feet of booze when the vats broke in a room he was recuperating in) and some foolish pranks played on him by an idiot executive (Gene Reynolds).
Having graduated as an attorney the first in his law school class, he is offered a position at a prestigious firm, and discovers that not all successful people are big people, and not all the truly meaningful jobs are those that offer high salaries. He finds that his firm has many ruthless cases, one of which is the attempt to keep a Japanese man from moving into the apartment he has leased for six months. A public servant (Leon Ames) comes along and sensing his ideals, reveals the truth to him about the people he works with. Elizabeth Taylor is the daughter of one of the partners who takes an interest in Johnson's drunken predicament and sets out to help him.
At first, this film is a bit aggravating because this is a one-note joke that just goes too far, especially when the other partner (Reynolds) goes out of his way to humiliate the idealistic Johnson. Reynolds, we learn, is the jovial sort who puts on ladies' hats at parties just to get attention, and is truly mean-spirited behind his light-hearted demeanor. But when the film's message comes out, you begin to see that Johnson is meant to do something more than become a ruthless attorney, make a high salary, and set out to bring down the little people. Taylor must discover that his high integrity is the desirable choice for a husband even though it is obvious that she has learned from her father that if one wants to be successful in business and live in the creme-de-la-creme of society, one must be ruthless in order to get it and keep it.
Reminding me of Gary Cooper's Mr. Deeds, Johnson's veteran is the model of the idealistic man who has two roads to choose from with his success both in the military and in college. Like Mr. Deeds, when he is discovered to be honest, he is humiliated because he is trying to integrate integrity into a ruthless sector. This is where the film succeeds, not with its one-joke sitcom like situation that has Johnson having drunken conversations with his dog. That results in a mixed bag, although the pay-off for Reynolds' obnoxious character is perfect for the epitome of the saying, "There's No Fool Like an Old Fool". So much for old fools wearing ladies' hats.
Having graduated as an attorney the first in his law school class, he is offered a position at a prestigious firm, and discovers that not all successful people are big people, and not all the truly meaningful jobs are those that offer high salaries. He finds that his firm has many ruthless cases, one of which is the attempt to keep a Japanese man from moving into the apartment he has leased for six months. A public servant (Leon Ames) comes along and sensing his ideals, reveals the truth to him about the people he works with. Elizabeth Taylor is the daughter of one of the partners who takes an interest in Johnson's drunken predicament and sets out to help him.
At first, this film is a bit aggravating because this is a one-note joke that just goes too far, especially when the other partner (Reynolds) goes out of his way to humiliate the idealistic Johnson. Reynolds, we learn, is the jovial sort who puts on ladies' hats at parties just to get attention, and is truly mean-spirited behind his light-hearted demeanor. But when the film's message comes out, you begin to see that Johnson is meant to do something more than become a ruthless attorney, make a high salary, and set out to bring down the little people. Taylor must discover that his high integrity is the desirable choice for a husband even though it is obvious that she has learned from her father that if one wants to be successful in business and live in the creme-de-la-creme of society, one must be ruthless in order to get it and keep it.
Reminding me of Gary Cooper's Mr. Deeds, Johnson's veteran is the model of the idealistic man who has two roads to choose from with his success both in the military and in college. Like Mr. Deeds, when he is discovered to be honest, he is humiliated because he is trying to integrate integrity into a ruthless sector. This is where the film succeeds, not with its one-joke sitcom like situation that has Johnson having drunken conversations with his dog. That results in a mixed bag, although the pay-off for Reynolds' obnoxious character is perfect for the epitome of the saying, "There's No Fool Like an Old Fool". So much for old fools wearing ladies' hats.