Fresh from an Oscar win for "The Grapes of Wrath", veteran character actress Jane Darwell went from drama to outlandish comedy as a feisty golden girl who has more energy than her own grandchildren. She's the sharp tongued mother-in-law of businessman Alan Hale (Sr.) whose son Eddie Albert has invested his mother's inheritance to him, putting her life on the line, with Darwell stepping in to take on the criminal element (lead by a young Anthony Quinn) who dares to threaten her daughter's life to get their cut of the inheritance.
Strange premise, yes, but very funny throughout, with Hale upset mostly because Albert is engaged to the daughter (Joan Leslie) of his business rival (Vaughan Glaser) and the two wives (Minna Gombell and Nana Bryant) fluttering around like dizzy children who have been spinning around for far too long. Gombell's the target of Quinn and company, but it is Darwell who steps in to take her identity so she can outwit them and save the family.
If you can get past the disturbing plot line of Gombell being a marked target for possible assassins, you'll find yourselves rooting for Darwell and Albert who team up against Quinn and his associates. Considering that Darwell was in her early 60's when she made this film (and would go on in films for another 25 years), it is obvious that she was having a great time here shamelessly hamming it up and hysterically delivering each wisecrack (usually at Hale's expense) with gusto. Albert gets to utilize his comedy skills in being a reactor to all the situations around him, knowing that there's no way he can keep up with granny.
Unfortunately, Joan Leslie is secondary to the action, getting only a few good moments, and overshadowed by Albert and Darwell in spite of being a gorgeous, rising leading lady. Hale's reactions to Darwell's ribbing are deliciously slow burning, although it's clear that as much as he annoys her, she has a soft spot for her son-in-law as well in spite of his shortcomings.
There are some good moments too for the much married housekeeper Etta McDaniel (Hattie's sister) who gets in a few very funny malapropisms that are amusing even with her character's stereotyping. It's a more than passable time-filler that is very unique in many ways compared to other comedies of the time.
Strange premise, yes, but very funny throughout, with Hale upset mostly because Albert is engaged to the daughter (Joan Leslie) of his business rival (Vaughan Glaser) and the two wives (Minna Gombell and Nana Bryant) fluttering around like dizzy children who have been spinning around for far too long. Gombell's the target of Quinn and company, but it is Darwell who steps in to take her identity so she can outwit them and save the family.
If you can get past the disturbing plot line of Gombell being a marked target for possible assassins, you'll find yourselves rooting for Darwell and Albert who team up against Quinn and his associates. Considering that Darwell was in her early 60's when she made this film (and would go on in films for another 25 years), it is obvious that she was having a great time here shamelessly hamming it up and hysterically delivering each wisecrack (usually at Hale's expense) with gusto. Albert gets to utilize his comedy skills in being a reactor to all the situations around him, knowing that there's no way he can keep up with granny.
Unfortunately, Joan Leslie is secondary to the action, getting only a few good moments, and overshadowed by Albert and Darwell in spite of being a gorgeous, rising leading lady. Hale's reactions to Darwell's ribbing are deliciously slow burning, although it's clear that as much as he annoys her, she has a soft spot for her son-in-law as well in spite of his shortcomings.
There are some good moments too for the much married housekeeper Etta McDaniel (Hattie's sister) who gets in a few very funny malapropisms that are amusing even with her character's stereotyping. It's a more than passable time-filler that is very unique in many ways compared to other comedies of the time.