Buried fake treasure and the discovery of real treasure is the plot of this absurd but surprisingly enjoyable PRC comedy where every outlandish situation possible results in some amusing situations that the audience will find itself forgiving the film for. Two sailors on furlough, Ralph Byrd and his plucky friend Stubby Kruger, become involved in a con involving a fake colonel (Herbert Corthell) and the woman he hired to be his daughter (Veda Ann Borg) to spend their leave going to a mysterious island to find this treasure which hooks them up with two other con-men (Val Stanton and Paul Bryar) and some African natives to find the treasure. Borg, falling for Byrd, manages to fool the natives, loyal to the con-artists, with poisoned deserts that make them pass out, but Stanton and Bryar have one last trick up their sleeve that could help them get away with the con scott free.
OK, as I gasp for air after trying to put down that convoluted plot on the web, I must say that in spite of all its short comings (and there are many), this is an enjoyable misfire that keeps your attention even if at times you feel you might need a treasure map to keep up with everything that is going on. The title of the film really makes no sense. Byrd is simply posing as the heir to the Duke chocolate fortune, and while he is hitchhiking with Kruger, he is picked up by a wealthy older woman (Margaret Armstrong) who is amused by Byrd's moxy and eventually reveals herself to be the head of Duke Chocolates. She grants him the use of her hotel suite while she is away and that makes Corthell think that Byrd is the heir to her estate which sets him up to try to con Byrd. Eventually, the audience comes to see that in spite of his con man profession, Corthell isn't at all bad, and they amusingly utilize him in their plans to con the real con-men Stanton and Bryar.
Kruger tries to be amusing, but his character is never really fully developed to be anything more than mildly annoying. Byrd is handsome but bland and really has no spark with his leading lady. Borg and Corthell give the best performances in the film with her snarky line delivery and his blowhard personality. The sets seem shaky at best and it appears that certain parts of them might topple at any moment. But the pacing is nice and the script keeps the ridiculousness of the story amusing. If you can get past the poor black extras playing the so-called African natives, you can find this enjoyable even if for much of the film you keep repeating one simple word: "Huh?"
OK, as I gasp for air after trying to put down that convoluted plot on the web, I must say that in spite of all its short comings (and there are many), this is an enjoyable misfire that keeps your attention even if at times you feel you might need a treasure map to keep up with everything that is going on. The title of the film really makes no sense. Byrd is simply posing as the heir to the Duke chocolate fortune, and while he is hitchhiking with Kruger, he is picked up by a wealthy older woman (Margaret Armstrong) who is amused by Byrd's moxy and eventually reveals herself to be the head of Duke Chocolates. She grants him the use of her hotel suite while she is away and that makes Corthell think that Byrd is the heir to her estate which sets him up to try to con Byrd. Eventually, the audience comes to see that in spite of his con man profession, Corthell isn't at all bad, and they amusingly utilize him in their plans to con the real con-men Stanton and Bryar.
Kruger tries to be amusing, but his character is never really fully developed to be anything more than mildly annoying. Byrd is handsome but bland and really has no spark with his leading lady. Borg and Corthell give the best performances in the film with her snarky line delivery and his blowhard personality. The sets seem shaky at best and it appears that certain parts of them might topple at any moment. But the pacing is nice and the script keeps the ridiculousness of the story amusing. If you can get past the poor black extras playing the so-called African natives, you can find this enjoyable even if for much of the film you keep repeating one simple word: "Huh?"