So You Want to Go to a Convention (1952) User Reviews

Much like "Sons of the Desert".

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 18 October 2017]

One of Laurel & Hardy's greatest films was "Sons of the Desert". It's the story of the guys sneaking off to a convention and having a ball when they pretended to be leaving town for Ollie's health. Why? Because they knew their wives wouldn't stand for them going off to have a good time without them. The plot was recycled many times on television on such shows as "The Honeymooners" and "The Flintstones" and here it makes its way to the McDoakes series.

Joe is supposed to be going to Omaha for a convention. However, his slimy office mate, Homer, leads Joe astray--and they go to a women's convention in order to chase women! But Mrs. McDoakes ALSO checks in to the same hotel in Palm Springs and finds out the truth...and Joe has no idea he's in deep, deep trouble.

Despite being a recycled plot, the story manages to have enough new elements and a funny twist at the end that I heartily endorse you seeing it. Clever and just plain fun.

The Funny Side of Conventions, as seen by Joe Mc Doakes & Co.

[redryan64 · 7/10 · 19 February 2016]

IT WAS CERTAINLY no surprise to find the MC DOAKES regulars bringing us an outing that gave their take on the Great American Tradition of the "Convention." Although they run the spectrum through all colors and shades in between from Political, Labour, Religious, Fraternal or what have you, there is a great similarity in the objectives held by their mostly male confectioners. That would be having a "good time", regardless of what one's definition of that would be.

PREVIOUSLY TO THIS Mc Doakes outing, the subject matter had been the central theme of so many comedy performers and continued so to this very day. Take for example, THE SONS OF THE DESERT (Laurel & Hardy), AMOS 'N" ANDY TV (trip to Mystic Knights of the Sea convention), JACKIE GLEASON Show (Kramden & Norton go to Raccoon Lodge conclave) and many others.

IN THE CASE of Joe's pending excursion, he first must contend with wife, Alice (Phyllis Coates). Her natural instincts as a female of the gentler sex have him under suspicion from the get-go. Although his intentions are completely honorable, Fate would intervene and doom his trip to that of a tragedy waiting to happen.

THE OBSTACLES IN his path start him on his path toward crashing and burning. His choice of "Good Time" Charlie Jones (Jackson Wheeler*) was the beginning; as he is a bachelor and free to socialize freely. Added to that we have a couple of changes in venue as well as Alice's showing up.

IN CLOSING THINGS out and wrapping it all up, the story makes mention of the ultimate Wives' extravagance in the desire to possess Mink; a real symbol of "having made it" in the 1950's. They also make reference to the metaphor of "Ball & Chain" in marriage; which is fittingly done as a fade out sight gag.

AS FAR AS any rating, Schultz gives it ***; me only ** 1/2.

NOTE: * Supporting player, Jackson Wheeler had become a sort regular in the MC DOAKES Series. He had been cast as Joe's pal, Homer, by virtue of the premature death of actor, Clifton Young (1917-51)

Big Laughs from McDoakes

[Michael_Elliott · 13 May 2010]

So You Want to Go to a Convention (1952)

*** (out of 4)

Joe McDoakes tells wife Alice that he's going to Omaha for a convention but he's actually talked into a trip to Palm Springs by "Good Times" Charlie Jones. Once down there Joe calls home to have Alice say she's just happening to take a trip there so he must try and get home without her finding out the truth. Fans of the series are going to eat this one up as O'Hanlon and Coates are both in top-form and they really milk every laugh that they can get. The highlight of the film is without question when Joe and Charlie arrive back to their bedroom and they're so drunk that they think they have double beds when in fact it's just one. The pay-off to this sequence is very funny but so are various other gags including a rather hilarious "owl dance" that the boys must give. I was surprised to see how well Jackson Wheeler was as Charlie. He is constantly singing bad songs but doing them with such nice comic timing that you can't help but laugh. As usual the film ends with a punchline with the gag here working very well.