Copyright 15 January 1943 by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. New York opening at the Palace (as a support to a second run of Now, Voyager): 17 December 1942. U.S. release: 1 January 1943. Australian release: 15 April 1943. 5,731 feet. 63 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Gildersleeve is pursued by the judge's music-teaching daughter. He tries to keep a low profile, but his nephew determines to make the town Gildersleeve conscious.
NOTES: First of the four-picture Gildersleeve series. The others: Gildersleeve's Bad Day (1943), Gildersleeve on Broadway (1943), Gildersleeve's Ghost (1944). All starred Harold Peary as Gildersleeve and all were directed by Gordon Douglas, and produced for RKO by Herman Schlom.
COMMENT: Certainly at least twice as entertaining as the radio show, Gildersleeve emerges as a bigger man than we visualized, though still exuding that same air of asinine self-confidence and still of course in full possession of that fruity, full-volumed radio voice.
The other characters also translate well to the screen. Nancy Gates makes an absolutely gorgeous Marjorie, Freddie Mercer appears just right as the inventive LeRoy, and Lillian Randolph is a stand-out as the long-suffering Birdie.
It's also good to see Jane Darwell (as practical Aunt Emma), Thurston Hall (in a nice big windbag part as the snuffling governor), George Chandler (a prying telegram man), and other favorites.
By the humble standards of the "B" brigade, the movie has been produced on a fair-sized budget with a high-stepping street parade, a location-lensed foot race, a packed testimonial luncheon and other diversions.
The direction maintains a welcome feeling of pace even when the gags are telegraphed well ahead. Frank Redman's brightly attractive photography also helps the movie's delightful momentum.
SYNOPSIS: Gildersleeve is pursued by the judge's music-teaching daughter. He tries to keep a low profile, but his nephew determines to make the town Gildersleeve conscious.
NOTES: First of the four-picture Gildersleeve series. The others: Gildersleeve's Bad Day (1943), Gildersleeve on Broadway (1943), Gildersleeve's Ghost (1944). All starred Harold Peary as Gildersleeve and all were directed by Gordon Douglas, and produced for RKO by Herman Schlom.
COMMENT: Certainly at least twice as entertaining as the radio show, Gildersleeve emerges as a bigger man than we visualized, though still exuding that same air of asinine self-confidence and still of course in full possession of that fruity, full-volumed radio voice.
The other characters also translate well to the screen. Nancy Gates makes an absolutely gorgeous Marjorie, Freddie Mercer appears just right as the inventive LeRoy, and Lillian Randolph is a stand-out as the long-suffering Birdie.
It's also good to see Jane Darwell (as practical Aunt Emma), Thurston Hall (in a nice big windbag part as the snuffling governor), George Chandler (a prying telegram man), and other favorites.
By the humble standards of the "B" brigade, the movie has been produced on a fair-sized budget with a high-stepping street parade, a location-lensed foot race, a packed testimonial luncheon and other diversions.
The direction maintains a welcome feeling of pace even when the gags are telegraphed well ahead. Frank Redman's brightly attractive photography also helps the movie's delightful momentum.