The Big Shot (1937)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Edward Killy

Writers:

Lawrence Pohle (story) and
Thomas Ahearn (story) ...

Release Date:

23 July 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Romance

Plot:

A small-town veterinarian inherits $2 million from his uncle, whom he hasn't seen for years. He decides...

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Veterinarian | Crusade | Family Relationships | Moll

Cast

Guy Kibbee	...	Dr. Bertram 'Doc' / 'Simmzy' Simms
Cora Witherspoon	...	Mrs. Elizabeth Simms
Dorothy Moore	...	Peggy Simms
Gordon Jones	...	Chester 'Chet' Scott
Russell Hicks	...	Martin Drake
Frank M. Thomas	...	A.C. Murdock (newspaper editor)
Dudley Clements	...	Honest John McQuade
George Irving	...	Police Chief
Maxine Jennings	...	Gloria, Soapy's Girl, aka Miss Bernice Ackleton
Barbara Pepper	...	Mamie
Tom Kennedy	...	Bugs
John Kelly	...	Deuces
Eddie Gribbon	...	Soapy, aka Mr. Stratford Enright III
Al Hill	...	Spots
Donald Kirke	...	Johnny Cullen

Also Known As:

Take the Heir (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #3398)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Soundtrack:

Yankee Doodle

A great little B-film--watch this one to see how they should have been made!

While the score of 9 is exceptionally high, I think it's merited if this short movie is compared to other B-movies of the era. The "B-movie", if you don't know, is a low budget short movie (usually about an hour) that was made as a second feature in a double feature. In other words, you'd have an "A-picture" (a top film with top stars and budget), a short film or cartoon (or both), a newsreel and also a B-movie--all for the price of admission in the 1930s and 40s. Often, people assumed that B's were bad or ultra-cheap films and while this often was the case, there were quite a few B's that are actually more entertaining and memorable than the A's. As for me, I love B's--particularly well-made ones or the B series films (such as the Crime Doctor or Charlie Chan series, for example).

As far as B's go, they don't get much better than this one. Much of this is due to the exceptionally good writing for this film. The movie is very original and filled with wonderful gags and twists. Additionally, the star, Guy Kibbee, was his usually affable and enjoyable self. As usual, the film begins with him being a bit of a boob, but you see during the film he's actually pretty smart and naturally ends up showing everyone--but the journey there is quite enjoyable. In many ways, this persona is like a non-intoxicated and more likable W. C. Fields--such as in his movies IT'S A GIFT and YOU'RE TELLING ME--where the lead is actually much smarter than people assume and he ends up making good by the end.

Very enjoyable, clever and entertaining--this is about as much as you could expect from a B.