Country Gentlemen (1936)

Director:

Ralph Staub

Writers:

Jo Graham (story)
Jack Harvey (story)

Release Date:

9 November 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

After being run out of town after town for trying to sell worthless stock, two con artists breeze into the small town of Chesterville...

Plot Keywords:

Stock | Veteran | False Arrest | Oil Well | Moral Reformation

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Ole Olsen	...	J.D. McAllister, aka Jerome D. Hamilton
Chic Johnson	...	Charles Watson, aka Charlie 'Chubby' Williams
Joyce Compton	...	Gertie
Lila Lee	...	Mrs. Louise Heath
Pierre Watkin	...	Mr. Grayson
Donald Kirke	...	Mr. Martin
Ray Corrigan	...	Briggs
Sammy McKim	...	Billy Heath
Wade Boteler	...	First Deputy
Ivan Miller	...	Harry, Second Deputy
Olin Howland	...	Lawyer
Frank Sheridan	...	Chief of Police
Harry Harvey	...	Shorty, an Investor
Joe Cunningham	...	Chuck, the Counterman
Prince	...	Fluffy (the Great Dane)

Runtime:

66 min | USA:53 min (edited version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA High Fidelity Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

Republic Pictures

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Before Chubby leaves the office, he is wearing a single-breasted jacket, but when he goes down to the car, it's a double-breasted jacket and Fluffy tears it up. Later, when the guys stop to eat, Chubby is wearing the single-breasted jacket again.

Decent, but not a film you should rush out to see...

This is the third Olsen and Johnson film I have seen recently and it's quite watchable...but nothing more. If you have seen HELLZAPOPPIN (probably their best film), this film and the rest of their films are apparently nothing like it!! HELLZAPOPPIN is crazy and pushes the boundaries of film and it's a shame that they didn't make more like it. COUNTRY GENTLEMEN (and the rest of their films) are much more structured and conventional. In many ways, their films are a lot like lower budget Abbott and Costello movies--though Olsen and Johnson made most of their films before Abbott and Costello came to Hollywood. So maybe that means Abbott and Costello films are like Olsen and Johnson films.

The film begins with the team running from the law, as they'd apparently sold interests in a gold mine that didn't pay off. Unfortunately, in the next locale, their luck isn't any better and they buy an oil well...that also appears to be worthless. The problem is that the nice townspeople have just invested and when they discover the truth Olsen and Johnson will be lucky if the people in this small town don't string them up to the nearest tree!

Unfortunately, the film has a few strikes against it. First, like so many of their films, many of the jokes fall rather flat. Second, the ending is incredibly lame, as it's all way too predictable and convenient. However, in between the film is at least pleasant and breezy--especially since the DVD I found was the shortened 53 minute version. Too short? Maybe, but without the original longer version, it's hard to tell. Also, unlike the last Olsen and Johnson film I saw, ALL OVER TOWN, at least Ole Olsen doesn't use his annoying laughing shtick nearly as much. That laugh could curdle milk!!