This was the third and final of the "Whistling In..." series of B movies starring the young Red Skelton. And in my view, it's the best, although "Whistling In The Dark" (the first in the series) was darned good. This series was the first time Skelton got top billing in a film, and he really makes the most of it. MGM "got" what Red Skelton did best in this early series. Unfortunately, later they forgot what he did best, and although his performances in musical comedies are interesting, it's when it's pure comedy that he best succeeds.
Red plays Wally Benton again here -- radio's "The Fox" -- a detective yarn. This time he gets mixed up with the "Constant Reader"...someone who tells of impeding deaths. For a while, the police think he is Constant Reader. So, the police are after Benton (Red), as are the gangsters.
Ann Rutherford is along again as the love interest, with Jean Rogers as her competition. Both ladies excel. Rags Ragland is the buddy again here, as he was in the second and third films, although here his role seems a bit diminished. Venerable character actors Ray Collins (later in "Perry Mason") and Henry O'Neill have decent roles here. William Frawley has a minor role as a detective.
Lots of slapstick here, and it all works quite well. Tune in for Red in his third starring role. But, three times was enough. Time to move on after this third installment.
Red plays Wally Benton again here -- radio's "The Fox" -- a detective yarn. This time he gets mixed up with the "Constant Reader"...someone who tells of impeding deaths. For a while, the police think he is Constant Reader. So, the police are after Benton (Red), as are the gangsters.
Ann Rutherford is along again as the love interest, with Jean Rogers as her competition. Both ladies excel. Rags Ragland is the buddy again here, as he was in the second and third films, although here his role seems a bit diminished. Venerable character actors Ray Collins (later in "Perry Mason") and Henry O'Neill have decent roles here. William Frawley has a minor role as a detective.
Lots of slapstick here, and it all works quite well. Tune in for Red in his third starring role. But, three times was enough. Time to move on after this third installment.