The plot is thin, the premise even thinner. However, Grace Allen is her usual ebullient self, somehow even in her "dimwittedness" suggesting that some shrewd insights lie beneath the surface, and that everyone else is only a fall guy. The scenes with father and sister are sometimes extremely amusing, but the primary distinctive feature of the film is that it gives the viewer the opportunity to see many of the old vaudeville acts in their pristine form, as Gracie the heiress opens her home to the out of work performers. Probably these were performers who appeared in vaudeville with Burns and Allen themselves.
9 Reviews
It's actually a Barbier and Allen vehicle!
JohnHowardReid18 January 2007
Although billed as a Burns and Allen vehicle, it's actually George Barbier who has the main role and carries the weight of the comedy in this enjoyable, well-produced "B" movie. Not that I'm complaining. Barbier is not only more than equal to the task, he carries off more laughs than the dithery Miss Allenwho is delightfully partnered here not only by Barbier but by Andrew Tombes who makes the most of one of his largest and most ingratiating roles ever. George Burns has only a small role and seems to have been included in the cast simply to serve as an occasional butt for why-don't-you-marry-Gracie jokes.
Other players who register more strongly than Mr Burns include Betty Furness (as the daughter who comes to her senses), Rafael Storm (as the money hound), James Burke (as the fake swami), Syd Saylor (a credulous taxi-driver), and Harry Holman (a disillusioned crony).
As for the twelve (count them) vaudeville headline acts announced in the credit titles, we see only two (three if you count the fact that drummer Jack Powell is handed two bites), although five or six others flit by in the background.
Other players who register more strongly than Mr Burns include Betty Furness (as the daughter who comes to her senses), Rafael Storm (as the money hound), James Burke (as the fake swami), Syd Saylor (a credulous taxi-driver), and Harry Holman (a disillusioned crony).
As for the twelve (count them) vaudeville headline acts announced in the credit titles, we see only two (three if you count the fact that drummer Jack Powell is handed two bites), although five or six others flit by in the background.
Proving Insanity Is Hereditary
boblipton18 November 2023
In this sort of sequel to MANY HAPPY RETURNS, retired millionaire George Barbier finds his daughter Betty Furness, is engaged to a gold-digger Rafael Alcayde. To stop this, he gives all his money to his other daughter, Gracie Allen, and goes down to the small rural town he was born in, to wrestle Harry Holman. Completely misunderstanding -- surprise! -- Miss Allentakes in every broken-down vaudevillian and his trained seal. Plus when Alcayde learns of what Barbier has done, he tells Gracie he loves her and she him. So she decides to put on a show using all this lack of talent.
It's a particularly crazy comedy in which Miss Allen is in charge, and is visually inventive. While Burns nd butler Andrew Tombes are discussing how to find an unused bathroom, a spoons player or troupe of acrobats might pass in foreground or background. Credit director Norman Z. McLeod not only for his experience in silent comedy, but his time directing the Marx Brothers.
It's a particularly crazy comedy in which Miss Allen is in charge, and is visually inventive. While Burns nd butler Andrew Tombes are discussing how to find an unused bathroom, a spoons player or troupe of acrobats might pass in foreground or background. Credit director Norman Z. McLeod not only for his experience in silent comedy, but his time directing the Marx Brothers.
While the plot makes no sense whatsoever, it is charming and watchable.
planktonrules16 April 2010
I gotta admit up front that I am not a huge Burns & Allen fan. To me, their type of humor goes a long way and I can take them only in small doses. In light of this, it is a bit surprising that I'd watch a DVD with three of their films. My overall verdict isn't that different from what I expected and "Here Comes Cookie" is probably my favorite film of the bunch.
The film starts with a plot that makes no sense at all--and this set up is the weakest element of the movie because it is so contrived. A rich man, Mr. Allen, is frustrated at his one grown daughters. She wants to marry a man who obviously is a sleazy fortune-hunter--a man who wants to get a hold of the father's millions. So, to make this daughter less attractive to the sleazy Lothario, he transfers all his money to his other daughter, Gracie. Now considering that Gracie's IQ is 12 and she has the common sense of the Octo-mom, the idea of letting Gracie run the finances is pretty tough to believe. However, I must admit that some of the insane things she did were kind of funny...to a point. Instead of exercising common sense (???), Gracie turns her home into a boarding house for bizarre stage acts and wants to put on a show. Most of the acts are pretty lame, but I did enjoy watching the guy with the drumsticks--especially at the end of the film.
Overall, the film has some fun moments but also a few that fall pretty flat. Plus, combined with a dumb plot device, the film is probably not one to convert the average viewer into a fan of the comedy team. But, it's also harmless fun and worth a look if you like this sort of thing.
The film starts with a plot that makes no sense at all--and this set up is the weakest element of the movie because it is so contrived. A rich man, Mr. Allen, is frustrated at his one grown daughters. She wants to marry a man who obviously is a sleazy fortune-hunter--a man who wants to get a hold of the father's millions. So, to make this daughter less attractive to the sleazy Lothario, he transfers all his money to his other daughter, Gracie. Now considering that Gracie's IQ is 12 and she has the common sense of the Octo-mom, the idea of letting Gracie run the finances is pretty tough to believe. However, I must admit that some of the insane things she did were kind of funny...to a point. Instead of exercising common sense (???), Gracie turns her home into a boarding house for bizarre stage acts and wants to put on a show. Most of the acts are pretty lame, but I did enjoy watching the guy with the drumsticks--especially at the end of the film.
Overall, the film has some fun moments but also a few that fall pretty flat. Plus, combined with a dumb plot device, the film is probably not one to convert the average viewer into a fan of the comedy team. But, it's also harmless fun and worth a look if you like this sort of thing.
Slumming on Park Avenue.
mark.waltz3 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
When millionaire George Barbier comes of retirement age, he horrifies his oldest daughter Betty Furness by leaving his entire fortune in the hands of his idiotic daughter Gracie Allen instead. How dumb is she you ask. Good question. She's so dumb that she goes underneath her bed to read Dr. Jekyll and hide. She also ran over a fat man because she didn't think she had enough gas to get around him. Barbier fears the worst because Furness is in love with a stereotypical Spanish gigolo. He retires to the country pretending to be a pauper while Gracie turns the mansion upside down in order to put on a big musical she hopes will flop in one night. I wonder if this is where Bielestock and Bloom got their similar nutty idea...
A silly comedy with a few late musical interludes is one of many farcial views of the lives of the wealthy during the depression. If the idea of Gracie as a musical producer and its star doesn't have you rolling your eyes, try Allen as Juliet and being upset that Shakespeare couldn't make it. George Burns adds his wry commentary as Barbier's lawyer and the object of Allen's affections. Considering that the film barely lasts over an hour, it's all pretty innocuous and sometimes mildly amusing.
A silly comedy with a few late musical interludes is one of many farcial views of the lives of the wealthy during the depression. If the idea of Gracie as a musical producer and its star doesn't have you rolling your eyes, try Allen as Juliet and being upset that Shakespeare couldn't make it. George Burns adds his wry commentary as Barbier's lawyer and the object of Allen's affections. Considering that the film barely lasts over an hour, it's all pretty innocuous and sometimes mildly amusing.
A Historical Treasure
SaraAutumn7 January 2004
The plot is thin but the casting is stuffed with major faces from the heydey of Vaudeville. For most of these performers, uncredited as they were, this is the only recording of parts of their act. Enjoy the silliness and pretend you're at Minsky's.
Screwball at it's best
bkoganbing13 March 2004
Burns and Allen who usually were in support of other stars got to carry this one by themselves. It is a laugh riot from start to finish. Trying to keep his normal daughter, Betty Furness from marrying a gigolo, George Barbier turns over his fortune to his other dimwitted daughter, Gracie Allen. What follows is one madcap situation after another as Gracie turns their home into a hotel for unemployed actors and then decided to produce her own show.
As good as Gracie is, mention must be made of George Barbier. A fine character actor who played fathers, his blustering reactions to Gracie's schemes are worth seeing the movie in and of themselves.
As good as Gracie is, mention must be made of George Barbier. A fine character actor who played fathers, his blustering reactions to Gracie's schemes are worth seeing the movie in and of themselves.
Gracie Teamed With Another than Burns
pixthatmove6 September 2009
This was not the only time that Gracie Allen played screwball sidekick to another than hubby George Burns! As in this Paramount she marvelously is the comedy relief to George Barbier, In COLLEGE SWING (Bob Hope's first Paramount) Gracie ABSOLUTELY has Burns forgotten as she plays her Scatter brained character against that of Edward Everett Horton!!! THE TEAMING IS SO GREAT & PERFECT in such a teaming that Burns is delegated to that of Horton's straight man assistant & You Almost Forget About Him! Gracie & Horton are such a tremendously perfect pairing that one even forgets Hope, tho Martha Raye's loud antics can't help but keep you knowing she's in the cast!
Being broke costs money
jarrodmcdonald-123 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of those Depression era screwball comedies, with some sly show biz humor mixed in...the type of film that was popular in the 1930s. George Burns and Gracie Allen play themselves, essentially, but there is a fictional storyline if you can call it that. Gracie (age 40 in real life) plays a young society gal who is entrusted with money belonging to her rich father (George Barbier) in order to keep the family from going broke. It doesn't make sense...it's not supposed to make sense...it's supposed to be funny.
And yes, it is funny seeing what sort of outlandish things Gracie does with her dad's moolah. She has somehow gotten the impression from Barbier's assistant (Burns) that in order to protect their money she needs to spend it. The real goal, devised by Barbier's character, is that if he transfers all his funds to Gracie, then a younger daughter (Betty Furness) won't be targeted by a fortune hunter (Rafael Storm). Furness won't be able to get funds from Barbier, since he doesn't have any, because it's all been given to Gracie.
Of course, Storm finds out that Gracie is now a very wealthy woman and he is all too eager to dump Furness, hook up with Gracie and propose marriage to her, so that he can help her spend the dough. While this is going on, Georgie Porgie (as Gracie calls him) is trying to control Gracie's spending, but she's just invited a large group of starving actors to the manse, and these people run amok.
The inclusion of the actors subplot allows the film to weave in some fun vaudeville routines, and after all, that is how Burns & Allen got their start. Also, the plot builds to a special revue utilizing several of the acts, as well as a comedic performance of the balcony scene from Romeo & Juliet by Gracie. I won't give it all way, but let's just say the balcony is not very well constructed!
There are a few clever play-on-words in this film. For example, while performing on stage, Gracie stops to take a call from a butcher. She tells the audience that she instructed the butcher to call at night because she likes dark meat. Also, when people show up for the performance, a marquee outside says 'Gracie Allen's Flop.' Imagine if that was how Paramount marketed this film when it played in theaters!
Much of what happens on screen defies logic. It's the most absurd, most broadly played farce ever. It occurred to me when watching COOKIE (Georgie Porgie's pet name for Gracie) that these two were so successful with audiences, because they perfected a brand of comedy you don't find anymore...where there is no limit to how far you can exaggerate a scenario. It truly is "anything for a laugh."
And yes, it is funny seeing what sort of outlandish things Gracie does with her dad's moolah. She has somehow gotten the impression from Barbier's assistant (Burns) that in order to protect their money she needs to spend it. The real goal, devised by Barbier's character, is that if he transfers all his funds to Gracie, then a younger daughter (Betty Furness) won't be targeted by a fortune hunter (Rafael Storm). Furness won't be able to get funds from Barbier, since he doesn't have any, because it's all been given to Gracie.
Of course, Storm finds out that Gracie is now a very wealthy woman and he is all too eager to dump Furness, hook up with Gracie and propose marriage to her, so that he can help her spend the dough. While this is going on, Georgie Porgie (as Gracie calls him) is trying to control Gracie's spending, but she's just invited a large group of starving actors to the manse, and these people run amok.
The inclusion of the actors subplot allows the film to weave in some fun vaudeville routines, and after all, that is how Burns & Allen got their start. Also, the plot builds to a special revue utilizing several of the acts, as well as a comedic performance of the balcony scene from Romeo & Juliet by Gracie. I won't give it all way, but let's just say the balcony is not very well constructed!
There are a few clever play-on-words in this film. For example, while performing on stage, Gracie stops to take a call from a butcher. She tells the audience that she instructed the butcher to call at night because she likes dark meat. Also, when people show up for the performance, a marquee outside says 'Gracie Allen's Flop.' Imagine if that was how Paramount marketed this film when it played in theaters!
Much of what happens on screen defies logic. It's the most absurd, most broadly played farce ever. It occurred to me when watching COOKIE (Georgie Porgie's pet name for Gracie) that these two were so successful with audiences, because they perfected a brand of comedy you don't find anymore...where there is no limit to how far you can exaggerate a scenario. It truly is "anything for a laugh."
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