Pot o' Gold (1941)

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

Haydn Roth Evans (idea) &
Robert Brilmayer (idea) ...

Release Date:

3 April 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

It's the prize romantic laugh of the year... more fun than winning the POT O' GOLD!

Plot:

Jimmy, the owner of a failed music shop, goes to work with his uncle, the owner of a food factory. Before he gets there...

Plot Keywords:

Music Shop | Harmonica | Big Band | Feud | Beautiful Woman

Cast

James Stewart	...	James Hamilton 'Jimmy' Haskell
Paulette Goddard	...	Molly McCorkle
Horace Heidt	...	Himself, Horace Heidt
Charles Winninger	...	Charles 'C.J.' Haskell
Mary Gordon	...	Mom McCorkle
Frank Melton	...	Jasper Backus
Jed Prouty	...	J.K. Louderman
Charles Arnt	...	Parks (butler) (as Charlie Arnt)
Dick Hogan	...	Willie McCorkle
James Burke	...	Police Lt. Grady
Donna Wood	...	Donna McCorkle
Larry Cotton	...	Larry Cotton, Vocalist

Also Known As:

Jimmy Steps Out (USA) (alternative title)
The Golden Hour (UK)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

UK:PG (re-rating) (2005) | UK:U (original rating) | Finland:K-18 | USA:Approved (TF1 certificate) | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl

Company:

James Roosevelt Productions

Trivia:

"Pot O' Gold" was a radio program that featured musical routines; this film is a movie version of that radio program.

Goofs:

Continuity: As Jimmy follows Molly to the house, the bag of apples is held waist-high by the bottom of the bag. In the closer shot, the bag has disappeared and his hand is down by his side. When he brings the bag back into view, he is holding it at the top whereas previously he held it by the bottom.

Quotes:

Inmates: [singing] You gotta get up, you gotta get up, you're in the army now!
Hames Hamilton 'Jimmy' Haskell: Johnny plays the bugle, he knows the calls from A to Z. But he's always at his best when blowing reveille.
Inmates: So Johnny blows and blows...
Hames Hamilton 'Jimmy' Haskell: He toot-a-lee-toots you into your clothes.
Inmates: And makes you rue the day that you were born. There's nothing any one can do. The captain has to make it too! So you gotta get up, you gotta get up!

Soundtrack:

Hi, Cy, What's A-Cookin'?

Odd but thoroughly enjoyable

Jimmy Stewart is Jimmy Stewart, in this film as much as in any. The hoofers, musicians, dancers and others are very typical and very good.

Because of our impressions and biases, we expect something very different in a Jimmy Stewart film. This one is way beyond 'Philadelphia Story', on a scale that runs from that to, say, 'Rear Window'.

This, however, is a very lightweight musical, to be considered closer to the 'Follies' films and shorts like the one about Catalina Island than such heavyweights as 'Carousel', 'L'il Abner' or 'Showboat'.

It actually reads more like a cartoon script than any coherent, literary film such as 'Golden Caddillac', 'Animal Crackers' or 'Bringing Up Baby'. Speaking of the last, it is a pity that JS and KH did not work together more.

The pace is frenetic ala Marx Brothers, the dance and musical numbers done very well and the emphasis is on having the minimum story necessary to string together the music.

There is a subtle but very special scene, near the end, when Paulette Goddard goes to Jimmy's place to rouse him out and get him to the studio for the climactic radio show. It is not a musical number though there is a great deal of physical comedy in the scene. What makes it special special part is, without rhythm or music, that it is very clear that Paulette Goddard is dancing. The blocking, direction and her own talent shine. This one scene is worth the price of admission.

With a story in the best tradition of American Musical Tradition, more talent per actor than many better known and better thought-of films, this is a very enjoyable diversion. I was constantly impressed with the tight writing and talent. Did I mention that the folks are good?

It ain't 'Grapes of Wrath' but 'Pot 'O Gold' is well worth the watching.