"Man About Town" is a very funny comedy with a wonderful cast of top actors of the day. The plot is a familiar one used in a few other good comedies. A woman is ignored by her husband who is all work and no play. So, to rekindle his interest in her she feigns interest in another man to try to make the hubby jealous and come around. Only, this film multiplies that by two women, and a double reverse with one man, who wants to attract a woman he is in love with. Neither of the last two are married.
This isn't anything like love triangles or quadrangles. It's a jungle gym of geometric figures that may make some howl with laughter while others shake their head in disbelief - or confusion. Still, the plot doesn't lay supposed amorous affairs on too heavily or overboard. So it comes off smoothly - except for some wrinkled faces and egos of the characters.
At the heart of this delicious farce is Jack Benny as Bob Temple. The film works so well because Temple is a real nice guy, a show producer, and decent fellow. He's in love with his leading lady, but she thinks they wouldn't hit it off because of their differences - ergo, his too kind, too polite, too nice and too decent persona.. Had Temple been a playboy or late night partier, the film would have lost much of its allure. Insteasd, the situations that unfold are very, very funny.
Well, I won't say how this develops and unfolds. With Benny in this wonderful farce are his long-time radio accomplices, Rochester and Phil Harris. Harris plays Ted Nash and Eddie Anderson plays Rochester. Anderson was one of the earliest., best and long-lasting African-American comedian. Here, his Rochester matches his boss, Bob Temple's snipes and quips jab for jab. And Rochester has a very good and funny song and dance scene. The other prominent players of the day are Edward Arnold as Sir John Arlington< Monty Woolley as Henri Dubois, and Dorothy Lamour as Temple's leading lady and flame, Diana Wilson. And, Binnie Barnes plays Lady Arlington, Isabel Jeans is Madame Dubois, and E. E. Clive is Hotchkiss, the Arlington's butler. Betty Grable has a small part as Susan Hayes.
The setting for the film is London - that is, foggy London as the opening scene shows. In those early years of movies, producers always seemed to play up London's fog, so many Americans thought of it as foggy most of the time. That's where Bob Temple has brought his show.
I would like to find a better copy of this film than the rough quality of the DVD I bought, because this is a great comedy for a keeper to play for family and friends, and to watch again from time to time - on a foggy or rainy day,. Or just when one needs some laughs.
Well, here are some favorite lines from this film.
Bob Temple, "I'm afraid you don't know much about women, Rochester." Rochester, "Well, I only know the difference between 'I can go for you' and 'How are you?'"
Bob Temple, "Get my hat and coat. And it's the last time I sign a butler to a seven-year contract."
Temple, "Why, they told me inside that the fog had lifted." Hotel Doorman, "Only up to the ankles, sir." Temple, "Oh."
Doorman, "It's about a mile, sir, straight ahead." Temple, "Oh, then all I have to do is follow my nose - if I can find it."
Temple, "Pardon me which way is the railroad station?" Englsh Bobby, "Straight ahead, sir, about thee miles." Temple, "Three miles? How'd they ever move it in this fog?"
Diana Wilson, "Money isn't everything, Rochester. You must have heard that before." Rochester, "Oh, I've heard it before, but I still ain't convinced."
Diana, "I've got half a notion to kiss you." Bob Temple, puckering his iips, "Well, I've got the other half."
Diana, "Oh, but we'd never make a go of it. I'm silly and romantic, and you're so solid and respectable." Bob, "Oh, but uh, Diana, I don't have to be so respectable." Diana, "Bob, you couldn't be anything else but."
Ted Nash, "Let him alone. Any girl is safe with Bob."
Bob, "Rochester, who told you to order all of this?" Rochester, "You did, boss." Bob, "Since when are you taking orders from me?"
Bob, "I'll show her I can be just as big a cad as anybody else."
Bob, "Rochester, you're now looking at a broken down Romeo, as of last night."
Bob Temple, to Lady Arington, "You see, I'm solid and respectable, and you're probably hungry."
Sir John Arlington, "Am I making your nervous?" Bob Temple, "Oh, no, no, no. I'm just trying to get the cup off of the saucer, you know."
This isn't anything like love triangles or quadrangles. It's a jungle gym of geometric figures that may make some howl with laughter while others shake their head in disbelief - or confusion. Still, the plot doesn't lay supposed amorous affairs on too heavily or overboard. So it comes off smoothly - except for some wrinkled faces and egos of the characters.
At the heart of this delicious farce is Jack Benny as Bob Temple. The film works so well because Temple is a real nice guy, a show producer, and decent fellow. He's in love with his leading lady, but she thinks they wouldn't hit it off because of their differences - ergo, his too kind, too polite, too nice and too decent persona.. Had Temple been a playboy or late night partier, the film would have lost much of its allure. Insteasd, the situations that unfold are very, very funny.
Well, I won't say how this develops and unfolds. With Benny in this wonderful farce are his long-time radio accomplices, Rochester and Phil Harris. Harris plays Ted Nash and Eddie Anderson plays Rochester. Anderson was one of the earliest., best and long-lasting African-American comedian. Here, his Rochester matches his boss, Bob Temple's snipes and quips jab for jab. And Rochester has a very good and funny song and dance scene. The other prominent players of the day are Edward Arnold as Sir John Arlington< Monty Woolley as Henri Dubois, and Dorothy Lamour as Temple's leading lady and flame, Diana Wilson. And, Binnie Barnes plays Lady Arlington, Isabel Jeans is Madame Dubois, and E. E. Clive is Hotchkiss, the Arlington's butler. Betty Grable has a small part as Susan Hayes.
The setting for the film is London - that is, foggy London as the opening scene shows. In those early years of movies, producers always seemed to play up London's fog, so many Americans thought of it as foggy most of the time. That's where Bob Temple has brought his show.
I would like to find a better copy of this film than the rough quality of the DVD I bought, because this is a great comedy for a keeper to play for family and friends, and to watch again from time to time - on a foggy or rainy day,. Or just when one needs some laughs.
Well, here are some favorite lines from this film.
Bob Temple, "I'm afraid you don't know much about women, Rochester." Rochester, "Well, I only know the difference between 'I can go for you' and 'How are you?'"
Bob Temple, "Get my hat and coat. And it's the last time I sign a butler to a seven-year contract."
Temple, "Why, they told me inside that the fog had lifted." Hotel Doorman, "Only up to the ankles, sir." Temple, "Oh."
Doorman, "It's about a mile, sir, straight ahead." Temple, "Oh, then all I have to do is follow my nose - if I can find it."
Temple, "Pardon me which way is the railroad station?" Englsh Bobby, "Straight ahead, sir, about thee miles." Temple, "Three miles? How'd they ever move it in this fog?"
Diana Wilson, "Money isn't everything, Rochester. You must have heard that before." Rochester, "Oh, I've heard it before, but I still ain't convinced."
Diana, "I've got half a notion to kiss you." Bob Temple, puckering his iips, "Well, I've got the other half."
Diana, "Oh, but we'd never make a go of it. I'm silly and romantic, and you're so solid and respectable." Bob, "Oh, but uh, Diana, I don't have to be so respectable." Diana, "Bob, you couldn't be anything else but."
Ted Nash, "Let him alone. Any girl is safe with Bob."
Bob, "Rochester, who told you to order all of this?" Rochester, "You did, boss." Bob, "Since when are you taking orders from me?"
Bob, "I'll show her I can be just as big a cad as anybody else."
Bob, "Rochester, you're now looking at a broken down Romeo, as of last night."
Bob Temple, to Lady Arington, "You see, I'm solid and respectable, and you're probably hungry."
Sir John Arlington, "Am I making your nervous?" Bob Temple, "Oh, no, no, no. I'm just trying to get the cup off of the saucer, you know."