Being an Armstrong fan, Louis blowing his horn is the musical highlight. Interesting why Martha Raye is paired with him, but this is the music that works the best. The rest of the music in the film is quite forgettable.
The film opens with a group of men doing an awful number. At the end of it they ask Benny how good it is, and he quite rightly tells them it is awful. Then he goes to his office where his business is in desperate trouble. He gets a magical phone call for a special $1 million dollar account to save him. Then he sets up his girlfriend to cement the account. Ida Lupino is excellent and there are some other actresses around as well.
What is painfully evident here is that Benny does not have his usual foils to play off. He is the ultimate straight man with great timing but there's no one to make him say "now cut that out". His business is in trouble, so no Rochester and Don Wilson is off playing in his radio show, not here. He does get a few romantic moments with Lupino and another model, but that is not what you think of is Benny being a romantic lead. It doesn't work well here either.
Even though this film has some star power, the just over 90 minute length is a B picture even with Raoul Walsh behind the camera. Walsh did a lot of films considered B's that he raised to B+ but in this case, even though 1 song was nominated for an Oscar, the dreadful music and lack luster comedy just can't do that. For Walsh directing, this one is a B minus. It would be worse without him, but with him at least it's okay.
The film opens with a group of men doing an awful number. At the end of it they ask Benny how good it is, and he quite rightly tells them it is awful. Then he goes to his office where his business is in desperate trouble. He gets a magical phone call for a special $1 million dollar account to save him. Then he sets up his girlfriend to cement the account. Ida Lupino is excellent and there are some other actresses around as well.
What is painfully evident here is that Benny does not have his usual foils to play off. He is the ultimate straight man with great timing but there's no one to make him say "now cut that out". His business is in trouble, so no Rochester and Don Wilson is off playing in his radio show, not here. He does get a few romantic moments with Lupino and another model, but that is not what you think of is Benny being a romantic lead. It doesn't work well here either.
Even though this film has some star power, the just over 90 minute length is a B picture even with Raoul Walsh behind the camera. Walsh did a lot of films considered B's that he raised to B+ but in this case, even though 1 song was nominated for an Oscar, the dreadful music and lack luster comedy just can't do that. For Walsh directing, this one is a B minus. It would be worse without him, but with him at least it's okay.