J. P. Merrick (Charles Coburn) is the world's richest man. There is discontent among his employees at his department store. So he decides to infiltrate the workforce. He befriends shoe saleswoman Miss Jones (Jean Arthur). She's in love with union activist Joe O'Brien (Robert Cummings). Together they try to unionize the store against uncaring management.
As a comedy, it has its moments. The bit where Merrick is checking the shoes and Jones is looking to hit him over the head is funny. But generally, the comedy is lacking. And O'Brien is a bit of an annoying know it all. The direction is mostly boring and flat. The scene with the cops is just stupid. I don't understand why they would let the old man go. It seems very likely that they were up to no good with the watch. That scene kind of killed the movie for me. It's intended to be funny, but I found it very annoying.
As a comedy, it has its moments. The bit where Merrick is checking the shoes and Jones is looking to hit him over the head is funny. But generally, the comedy is lacking. And O'Brien is a bit of an annoying know it all. The direction is mostly boring and flat. The scene with the cops is just stupid. I don't understand why they would let the old man go. It seems very likely that they were up to no good with the watch. That scene kind of killed the movie for me. It's intended to be funny, but I found it very annoying.