A couple of years ago one of our video rental stores went out of business. They sold off their stock. I knew that they had a good selection of movies from the 30's and 40's so I invested in about 20 of them. I just realized last week that I had overlooked viewing some of them. One of these was a 1941 flick called "A Girl, A Guy and a Gob" which I watched this evening. It starred Lucille Ball, George Murphy and Edmund O'Brien and was released in 1941.Much to my surprise it was very entertaining. The Producer was none other than Harold Lloyd of silent film fame. Evidently he produced 2 movies for RKO and they were both successful...don't know why the collaboration did not continue. "A Girl, A Guy and A Gob" has touches of silent film comedy and is also reminiscent in places of "You Can't Take It With You" since it deals with a similar "crazy" family. The principal stars look unbelievably young, especially O'Brien who later in his career became rather heavy. In this movie he looked somewhat like Franchot Tone. George Murphy also looks youthful and even does a bit of dancing although this is not a musical. Lucille Ball restrains herself in her comedy bits and mostly leaves the horseplay to Murphy (the Gob) and a fine cast of supporting players. So if you only like Lucy at her most outrageous you might be a little disappointed, but forget your disappointment because this is really a funny movie. The writing is good and the simple story line makes sense and the characters come through as believable. I attribute this to the involvement of Harold Lloyd who was really a comedy genius. I actually laughed out loud several times, something I don't often do for a Hollywood comedy. Try it, you might like it too.
17 Reviews
RKO Uses Players Here
DKosty1232 August 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Lucille Ball worked for RKO in 1941. She was considered a "B" Actress, not a comedian for the studio that produced such films as King Kong and Gunga Din was working at trying to stay in business and make money on a shoe string. This is one of the better of those.
Edmund O'Brien, who is rarely thought of as a comedy actor is actually pretty good here as the boss who falls in love with his secretary despite being best friends with her fiancé and being married himself. The comedy in this one is more physical than verbal. At one point Lucy puts some wrestling moves on her boss O'Brien(Stephen Herrick).
She wants to marry a sailor, Coffee Cup (George Murphy). Coffee Cup is the unlucky guy who even if it appears things are going to work out right somehow runs into bad luck. The only luck he seems to have is when he is in the Navy. That and his little black book of 100 ladies.
Dot (Lucille Ball) thinks she wants to marry Coffee Cup, but is torn between the 2 guys by late in the movie for many reasons. This movie is a lot fun, and Franklin Pangburn is a character bonus as a shop owner victimized in his encounters with Coffee Cup.
Lucy is not doing a lot of comedy yet and comes off as pleasant. Later she and another RKO player, Desi, would buy the studio.
Edmund O'Brien, who is rarely thought of as a comedy actor is actually pretty good here as the boss who falls in love with his secretary despite being best friends with her fiancé and being married himself. The comedy in this one is more physical than verbal. At one point Lucy puts some wrestling moves on her boss O'Brien(Stephen Herrick).
She wants to marry a sailor, Coffee Cup (George Murphy). Coffee Cup is the unlucky guy who even if it appears things are going to work out right somehow runs into bad luck. The only luck he seems to have is when he is in the Navy. That and his little black book of 100 ladies.
Dot (Lucille Ball) thinks she wants to marry Coffee Cup, but is torn between the 2 guys by late in the movie for many reasons. This movie is a lot fun, and Franklin Pangburn is a character bonus as a shop owner victimized in his encounters with Coffee Cup.
Lucy is not doing a lot of comedy yet and comes off as pleasant. Later she and another RKO player, Desi, would buy the studio.
Have you ever seen a film that simply tries too hard? Well, "A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob" sure does!
planktonrules22 May 2019
I really wanted to like "A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob". After all, the great silent comedian Harold Lloyd was the producer of this film...and I love Lloyd. But, sadly, I found the film to occasionally be tedious...mostly because it seemed to try too hard to make the audience laugh. Subtle, it wasn't! And, overall, it's more a pleasant (albeit loud) time-passer and not much more.
The film starts off well--with a rich guy, Stephen (Edmond O'Brien) in an awkward situation at the symphony. A family is in his box and try as he might, he cannot convince the staff that they are in his place. Not surprisingly, Stephen is mad.
Later, Dot (Lucille Ball) realizes that her family WAS in the wrong...it was Stephen's box after all. However, shortly after realizing it, she's assigned to be Stephen's new secretary. Imagine how awkward this might be!
Along the way, Stephen finds himself falling for Dot. But there's a hitch...she's got a fiance who is a sailor (George Murphy)...and Stephen likes the couple and doesn't want to horn in on their relationship. But what about Dot....what does she want?!
The problem with this film is that in many scenes it tries way, way too hard to be kooky. In the process, it lack subtlety and is a bit shrill. Terrible? No...but these annoying scenes do negatively impact the film and it's an easy film to skip....or not.
The film starts off well--with a rich guy, Stephen (Edmond O'Brien) in an awkward situation at the symphony. A family is in his box and try as he might, he cannot convince the staff that they are in his place. Not surprisingly, Stephen is mad.
Later, Dot (Lucille Ball) realizes that her family WAS in the wrong...it was Stephen's box after all. However, shortly after realizing it, she's assigned to be Stephen's new secretary. Imagine how awkward this might be!
Along the way, Stephen finds himself falling for Dot. But there's a hitch...she's got a fiance who is a sailor (George Murphy)...and Stephen likes the couple and doesn't want to horn in on their relationship. But what about Dot....what does she want?!
The problem with this film is that in many scenes it tries way, way too hard to be kooky. In the process, it lack subtlety and is a bit shrill. Terrible? No...but these annoying scenes do negatively impact the film and it's an easy film to skip....or not.
Just a lot of fun!
oscar-3520 August 2003
I wanted to see this film because my grandfather acted in it. His name is James Spencer. His south sea island scenes were cut out in the final release of this film. I still found this film to be a great treat and a lot of fun. It was a great example of the screw-ball comedies of the time before WW2. This should be seen on cable tv. Great chemistry between all the actors here.
a comedy Lucille Ball movie!
thien3149 September 2002
If you're a Lucille Ball fan, you would definitely want to see this movie. As a Lucille Ball fan, I have seen many of her movies, but this one would probably stand as one of the tops. In this movie, Lucille Ball plays as an average girl rather than a self-absorbed lady like in her other films. This movie also features her more than her other works, being seen in most of the scenes. I thought that the movie was great throughout except for the ending. The ending could have been better. Overall, it's a good movie to watch, especially with Lucile Ball in it.
Good Performances from all three Leads
tr-8349516 May 2019
She loved her sailor, but he isn't always true
bkoganbing15 May 2019
Harold Lloyd the fabled comedian of the silent screen produced this comedy for
RKO. Lloyd recognizing comic talent has Lucille Ball in the lead and her guy and
gob in that order are Edmond O'Brien and George Murphy.
The day before she's to start a new job as the secretary of a big shipping firm, Ball and her family which consists of parents George Cleveland and Kathleen Howard and nimble fingered Lloyd Corrigan as her brother decide to go to the opera. They get into a row with Edmond O'Brien and his fiance Marguerite Chapman when they sit at his box at the Met.
The next day Ball reports for work and discovers her new boss is O'Brien and that sets off a row. But soon he rather likes the blue color girl. The problem is she has a blue collar guy in sailor George Murphy on leave from Uncle Sam's Navy and deciding whether he wants another hitch.
The comedy belongs to Ball and Murphy. O'Brien who is a rich but shy business executive serves as a foil primarily. Lloyd puts in a few nice touches including a great car chase that could have come from one of his silent screen classics.
Franklin Pangborn has a couple of scenes as a nervous pet shop owner whom they all seem to run into and put upon. Henry Travers is also featured as O'Brien's uncle and quite the matchmaker.
Curiously enough with one of the protagonists a sailor and the film coming out in March of 1941 not a word about current unpleasantness in the world that the Navy would be getting into before the year was out.
Films like these were putting Lucille Ball on the road to being the queen of comedy.
The day before she's to start a new job as the secretary of a big shipping firm, Ball and her family which consists of parents George Cleveland and Kathleen Howard and nimble fingered Lloyd Corrigan as her brother decide to go to the opera. They get into a row with Edmond O'Brien and his fiance Marguerite Chapman when they sit at his box at the Met.
The next day Ball reports for work and discovers her new boss is O'Brien and that sets off a row. But soon he rather likes the blue color girl. The problem is she has a blue collar guy in sailor George Murphy on leave from Uncle Sam's Navy and deciding whether he wants another hitch.
The comedy belongs to Ball and Murphy. O'Brien who is a rich but shy business executive serves as a foil primarily. Lloyd puts in a few nice touches including a great car chase that could have come from one of his silent screen classics.
Franklin Pangborn has a couple of scenes as a nervous pet shop owner whom they all seem to run into and put upon. Henry Travers is also featured as O'Brien's uncle and quite the matchmaker.
Curiously enough with one of the protagonists a sailor and the film coming out in March of 1941 not a word about current unpleasantness in the world that the Navy would be getting into before the year was out.
Films like these were putting Lucille Ball on the road to being the queen of comedy.
Coffee Cup too good
SnoopyStyle31 August 2020
The Duncans are sitting in the box seat at the opera. Pigeon found the tickets after shipping magnate Stephen Herrick (Edmond O'Brien) dropped them. Stephen is angry that someone else has taken his box and he makes a scene. Dot Duncan (Lucille Ball) discovers that her brother had lost the money in a horse race and runs out on the show. She drops her purse on Stephen's head and the next day, she finds that her new job is being Stephen's new secretary. Her boyfriend Claudius J. "Coffee Cup" Cup (George Murphy) returns from the Navy.
This starts with a great Meet Cute. Lucille Ball is doing a lot of funny stuff. It's a great rom-com start for Stephen and Dot. Then Coffee Cup comes in and it turns into something else. For it to be a better love triangle, Coffee Cup needs to be a lesser suitor and Dot can't be fully in love. I certainly don't want Stephen ending up with Cecilia but I don't want Dot to leave Coffee Cup either. Coffee Cup is too good. I really like a lot of funny bits and the three main characters especially Dot with Coffee Cup. The four inches is a weirdly fun unforgettable bit. They just need to recalibrate Coffee Cup to fit the rom-com formula. I also didn't know what a gob is.
This starts with a great Meet Cute. Lucille Ball is doing a lot of funny stuff. It's a great rom-com start for Stephen and Dot. Then Coffee Cup comes in and it turns into something else. For it to be a better love triangle, Coffee Cup needs to be a lesser suitor and Dot can't be fully in love. I certainly don't want Stephen ending up with Cecilia but I don't want Dot to leave Coffee Cup either. Coffee Cup is too good. I really like a lot of funny bits and the three main characters especially Dot with Coffee Cup. The four inches is a weirdly fun unforgettable bit. They just need to recalibrate Coffee Cup to fit the rom-com formula. I also didn't know what a gob is.
Not one of Lucy's better efforts.
mark.waltz13 January 2011
Warning: Spoilers
When working class secretary Lucille Ball encounters wealthy Edmund O'Brien at the opera, sparks fly, and so does a purse. Ball's family have somehow ended up with O'Brien's usual opera box tickets and both parties create a huge disturbance that ends with Ball's purse flying out of her hands and onto O'Brien's head when he's (heaven forbid!) seated in the orchestra. The next thing Ball knows, she's been recruited to become O'Brien's secretary and initial hatred turns into an unlikely friendship. O'Brien has an obnoxious socialite fiancée (Marguerite Chapman) who keeps on walking in on Ball and O'Brien at awkward times and creates all sorts of misunderstandings. Ball is engaged to a sailor (George Murphy) who befriends O'Brien and takes him under his wing. O'Brien finds he likes Ball's rowdy family more than his social circle, and Ball finds that while she adores Murphy, her feelings for O'Brien cannot be denied.
There are some really funny moments in this film, including an incident with a naval pal of Murphy's who literally can grow four inches at will simply by stretching his neck, back and leg muscles (and apparently shrink back to his normal height). This creates a scene in front of sniffy Franklin Pangborn's pet supply store and brings on typical comic havoc. O'Brien, later a dependable tough guy, is different here than anything he did later on, so that makes for an interesting twist. However, great comic moments don't make a great film, and this ultimately is missing the flour that makes the cake rise. None of Ball's later wackiness is apparent in this one. I must also point out that eccentrically obnoxious isn't always amusing to watch, and that describes Ball's family here to the tea.
There are some really funny moments in this film, including an incident with a naval pal of Murphy's who literally can grow four inches at will simply by stretching his neck, back and leg muscles (and apparently shrink back to his normal height). This creates a scene in front of sniffy Franklin Pangborn's pet supply store and brings on typical comic havoc. O'Brien, later a dependable tough guy, is different here than anything he did later on, so that makes for an interesting twist. However, great comic moments don't make a great film, and this ultimately is missing the flour that makes the cake rise. None of Ball's later wackiness is apparent in this one. I must also point out that eccentrically obnoxious isn't always amusing to watch, and that describes Ball's family here to the tea.
Fast, witty, clever, nostalgic
alice_cooper9 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I can't believe I missed this flick after taping about 350 TCM movies for my bedridden aunt last year. Read previous posts for plot line. George Murphy as "Coffee-cup" shines in this role.He is surprisingly tender towards Lucille Ball in many scenes:(the scene where they share ice cream, the pre-wedding scene). The trait I admire the most in the characters in movies of the 30's and 40's is their nobility, self sacrifice, and humility. Coffee-cup recognizes that his betrothed (Lucille Ball) is slowly falling in love with Edmund Obrien's character and nobly steps down.Then Obrien acts similarly by doing everything he can in a chase scene identical to earlier Harold Loyd films.
I laughed throughout the entire movie at Skittles parents, the sailors, and the discomfort of Obrien each time he was caught "cheating" on his betrothed.
I laughed throughout the entire movie at Skittles parents, the sailors, and the discomfort of Obrien each time he was caught "cheating" on his betrothed.
A weak screwball comedy...pretty forgettable...
Doylenf8 November 2006
It's films like this that never guaranteed LUCILLE BALL would become a big star in her early Hollywood comedies. There's nothing subtle here in this film produced by Harold Lloyd and directed by Richard Wallace.
Lucille is the scatterbrained daughter in a family of zanies who meets EDMOND O'BRIEN in a mix-up over theater tickets. He's a casual, laid back executive, not very assertive (unlike his later roles), and when he needs a substitute secretary Lucy shows up for the job. It's a hectic film from then on.
GEORGE MURPHY is her brash sailor boyfriend, LLOYD CORRIGAN her brother, HENRY TRAVERS her father and the befuddled FRANKLIN PANGBORN is a pet shop owner.
It's a more subdued Lucy than usual with the others having most of the heavy mugging and pratfalls to do. MARGUERITE CHAPMAN is wasted as O'Brien's neglected girlfriend. Nice cast but they all have mediocre material to deal with.
Summing up: Passes the time pleasantly enough, but is nothing special.
Lucille is the scatterbrained daughter in a family of zanies who meets EDMOND O'BRIEN in a mix-up over theater tickets. He's a casual, laid back executive, not very assertive (unlike his later roles), and when he needs a substitute secretary Lucy shows up for the job. It's a hectic film from then on.
GEORGE MURPHY is her brash sailor boyfriend, LLOYD CORRIGAN her brother, HENRY TRAVERS her father and the befuddled FRANKLIN PANGBORN is a pet shop owner.
It's a more subdued Lucy than usual with the others having most of the heavy mugging and pratfalls to do. MARGUERITE CHAPMAN is wasted as O'Brien's neglected girlfriend. Nice cast but they all have mediocre material to deal with.
Summing up: Passes the time pleasantly enough, but is nothing special.
Girl-Guy-Gob-**
edwagreen10 November 2006
Lucille Ball was much more restrained in this 1941 comedy with Edmond O'Brien and George Murphy.
O'Brien appears so young and dashing in this film. He plays an upper class businessman who meets and finds love with secretary Ball. Murphy plays her sailor boyfriend. To me, the biggest question in the film was who would Murphy wind up with?
The comedy here is tedious. O'Brien has a snobbish girlfriend with a high society mother to the bargain.
Ball comes from a real common family where the brother finds opera tickets that belong to O'Brien. By the next scene, Ball is going to apply for a job where O'Brien is the owner. How coincidental can we get?
O'Brien appears so young and dashing in this film. He plays an upper class businessman who meets and finds love with secretary Ball. Murphy plays her sailor boyfriend. To me, the biggest question in the film was who would Murphy wind up with?
The comedy here is tedious. O'Brien has a snobbish girlfriend with a high society mother to the bargain.
Ball comes from a real common family where the brother finds opera tickets that belong to O'Brien. By the next scene, Ball is going to apply for a job where O'Brien is the owner. How coincidental can we get?
10/10
bondarenkokenya7 January 2022
One night, while he was at the opera, young ship tycoon Stephen Herrick (Edmond O'Brien) accidentally meets an unusually full young woman named Dot (Lucille Ball). The next day, while he is still dizzy from their dizzying meeting, she enters his office to serve as his secretary. Despite her audacity - or because of it - Stephen is inevitably attracted to the lively Dot, which is a big problem for Dotina's beauty, a sailor beast named Coffee Cup (George Murphy).
Not Very Good...
xerses1311 January 2011
HAROLD LLOYD produced this alleged comedy. Whatever he did right in the Silent Era and in his fine comedies of the 1930s' he must of forgotten in this production. This film telegraph's its entire plot within the first fifth-teen (15) minutes. It is as predictable as sand running through a 'Egg-Timer' and the 'timer' is more interesting.
A GIRL (Lucille Ball), A GUY (Edmond O'Brien) AND A GOB (George Murphy) form the 'love triangle'. Each wanting to do what they think is in each others best interests. All are wrong and in the end, who you thought should be together, end up together. Like we did not know that from the get go! The supporting cast also just punches their clock and collects their checks. No doubt being grateful for a short shoot! Realizing how 'unfunny' this film really is.
For some reason RKO kept featuring Mr. O'Brien in a series of mediocre comedies. Fortunetly after WWII he found his true niche as a character actor. Finally rewarded with the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA (1954). He continued his professionalism too the end of his career. Like-wise Mr. Murphy after success, mostly at M.G.M. also did alright, in the U.S. Senate. Ms. Ball, never a real front rank Star in Cinema, found the accomplishment and $$$ she craved in the new medium of Television. Which was more forgiving of her rather ordinary looks and slap-stick style of humor. In the 1950s' with limited competition and few channels to select from, you could be great or just the lessor of other evils too be popular.
A GIRL (Lucille Ball), A GUY (Edmond O'Brien) AND A GOB (George Murphy) form the 'love triangle'. Each wanting to do what they think is in each others best interests. All are wrong and in the end, who you thought should be together, end up together. Like we did not know that from the get go! The supporting cast also just punches their clock and collects their checks. No doubt being grateful for a short shoot! Realizing how 'unfunny' this film really is.
For some reason RKO kept featuring Mr. O'Brien in a series of mediocre comedies. Fortunetly after WWII he found his true niche as a character actor. Finally rewarded with the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA (1954). He continued his professionalism too the end of his career. Like-wise Mr. Murphy after success, mostly at M.G.M. also did alright, in the U.S. Senate. Ms. Ball, never a real front rank Star in Cinema, found the accomplishment and $$$ she craved in the new medium of Television. Which was more forgiving of her rather ordinary looks and slap-stick style of humor. In the 1950s' with limited competition and few channels to select from, you could be great or just the lessor of other evils too be popular.
Funny but the Ending could've been better
bigfoot12722 June 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Well I saw the movie yesterday and I have to say it gave me a good laugh. As a Lucille Ball fan she played a very big role in this movie.
She wasn't as goofy as she was in I Love Lucy or her future series but she was still excellent in this film.
I would've given this movie 10 stars but the ending ended very abrupt and to fast.
It would've been better if they would've explained it a bit more about how Steven got that tattoo on his chest.
Other then that though I highly recommend this movie to anybody who wants a laugh or is a fan of Lucille Ball.
She wasn't as goofy as she was in I Love Lucy or her future series but she was still excellent in this film.
I would've given this movie 10 stars but the ending ended very abrupt and to fast.
It would've been better if they would've explained it a bit more about how Steven got that tattoo on his chest.
Other then that though I highly recommend this movie to anybody who wants a laugh or is a fan of Lucille Ball.
Lucy and George!!
lilengin-4832615 July 2020
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