The Great Gildersleeve (1942)Gildersleeve, a small town bachelor, has slapstick troubles with a husband-hunting woman and two helpful kids. Director:Gordon Douglas |
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The Great Gildersleeve (1942)Gildersleeve, a small town bachelor, has slapstick troubles with a husband-hunting woman and two helpful kids. Director:Gordon Douglas |
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Harold Peary | ... | |
| Jane Darwell | ... | ||
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Nancy Gates | ... |
Marjorie Forrester
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Charles Arnt | ... | |
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Freddie Mercer | ... |
LeRoy Forrester
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Thurston Hall | ... |
Governor John Stafford
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Lillian Randolph | ... |
Birdie Lee Calkins
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Mary Field | ... |
Amelia Hooker
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George M. Carleton | ... |
Frank Powers
(as George Carleton)
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Small-town eccentric Throckmorton Gildersleeve (of radio fame) has a few problems: Judge Hooker continually questions his guardianship of niece Margie and nephew Leroy; the judge's predatory sister Amelia has matrimony in mind. When a misunderstanding gives Amelia the idea she's all but engaged, the kids form a wild scheme to get Gildersleeve out of trouble; slapstick results. Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
HAROLD PEARY brings his trademark laugh and distinctive voice to the screen in the first of the Gildersleeve films starring him in the title role. It's strictly corny, lowbrow comedy but lots of fun, an unpretentious little programmer from the early, patriotic '40s.
With a running time of one hour and two minutes, it seems more like a back to back half-hour TV situation comedy in style with the running joke being Gildersleeve's attempt to remain the bachelor guardian of two children and suspected of having marriage plans with the plain spinster mistakenly assumed to be his intended.
Nice support from JANE DARWELL as his efficient Aunt Emma, willing to help Gildersleeve with his household responsibilities and NANCY GATES as one of his charges. Much of the humor springs from Peary's comic skill with slapstick material as he mismanages everything.
CHARLES ARNT as a befuddled and irate Judge Hooker is effective in a supporting role, as is MARY FIELD as his sister, the unattractive spinster.
Anyone familiar with the Gildersleeve of radio fame is sure to enjoy this situation comedy from the Golden Age of B-film programmers.