Long before he married Mame Dennis, sold boys bands in the touring production of "The Music Man" and commanded F-Troop, Forrest Tucker was a contract player at Columbia, playing leads in B's and heavy's in A's. The young Tucker here is a recent law school graduate, delayed from marrying his fiance Lynn Merrick (getting her degree at the same time) because of the start of World War II. When the war is over, they open their own firm and have difficulty finding clients. A con-artist pal (Gus Schilling) helps them with that issue, bailing out businessman Thurston Hall (who has been framed for embezzlement), but dealing with kidnappers who don't want Hall cleared and a shady bail bondsman who wants his money on time.
Tucker, quite the looker back in his day, is very good in his part, and Merrick is fine as well. However, it's the comic supporting players who steal the scene, starting with Schilling and Hall, and continuing with Cora Witherspoon as Merrick's dizzy mother and Shemp Howard as one of the kidnappers. Hall is great, and it's easy to see why TV writer/producer Sherwood Schwartz named "Gilligan's Island" character Thurston Howell after him. Mindless fun that only takes an hour to unfold, but surprisingly intelligent.
Tucker, quite the looker back in his day, is very good in his part, and Merrick is fine as well. However, it's the comic supporting players who steal the scene, starting with Schilling and Hall, and continuing with Cora Witherspoon as Merrick's dizzy mother and Shemp Howard as one of the kidnappers. Hall is great, and it's easy to see why TV writer/producer Sherwood Schwartz named "Gilligan's Island" character Thurston Howell after him. Mindless fun that only takes an hour to unfold, but surprisingly intelligent.
