Other than getting bumped off by James Cagney & Edward G. Robinson in showy supporting roles, 1938 was something of a step back from 1937 for Humphrey Bogart.* And this little hayseed comedy must have seemed the nadir. It’s really not so bad: Bogie’s a boxing manager who goes to the Ozarks with hefty prospect Nat Pendleton to promote an easy fight. Turns out the local Hillbillies are game, but Pendleton gets stars in his eyes for putative opponent Louise Fazenda and won’t fight her! Hardy, har-har. It’s less weirdly amusing than amusingly weird, with some HEE HAW atmosphere and a couple of musicales for the locals, a well-staged song and square-dance number for Bogie gal Penny Singleton (less irritating than usual), and a surprise appearance by a young, glowing & tall Ronald Reagan as a newsman. Only his third credit. The film’s no more than harmless fluff, but Bogie made far worse pics.
WATCH THIS, NOT THAT: *Best of those ‘37 pics; MARKED WOMAN: excellent in support of Bette Davis as a crusading D.A., and one his best early leads as the resentful laborer losing out to immigrants and joining a KKK-like group in BLACK LEGION.
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