The Nervous Wreck

Harrison Ford -- the first one -- is that most annoying of comic heroes, the hypochondriac. We know that by the end of the movie, he will be cured for the sake of the ingénue, like Harold Lloyd in WHY WORRY, Eddie Cantor in WHOOPEE! or Danny Kaye in UP IN ARMS. In this case it's Phyllis Haver.

Producer Al Christie made several forays into comedy features about this time and they are pretty good. He used proved stage properties, skillful comedy actors and filled out the gag construction with director Scott Sidney. He would lose Ford and Haver to Demille within a year, but there would continue to be other competent comics to fill his movies -- at least until the Depression put an end to the independent comedy producers by the middle of the following decade.

That, however, would not be for several years. For the moment, this comedy is supplied with some good actors. While Ford is clearly the lead, there are plenty of comedy set-pieces for everyone and a plot line that grows increasingly frenetic as it approaches the end. It's clear to see why other producers poached Christie's stars after looking at this superior comedy movie.