Moviecut—Caught Plastered

source: Caught Plastered

Caught Plastered

This may be one of the best of the Wheeler&Woolsey comedies. Their particular brand of broad comedy has regrettably gone out of style in the 21st century and their movies are seldom shown nowadays - except on good old reliable TCM. Like their other films it is loaded with puns and outlandish circumstances and you have to be a fan of that genre, or at least a fan of W&W. No need to recap the plot, such as it is. It's the usual improbable scenario, this one about coming to the aid of an old lady with a failing drug store and turning it into a howling success. It features Jason Robards Sr. as the villain, who has an uncanny resemblance to his son, especially the voice and mannerisms. there are even a couple of tuneful but long forgotten songs. Whether you're a fan or not this is a good comedy in any era. ******** - Website no longer prints my star ratings.

This was only the second Wheeler & Woolsey film I managed to watch when it aired on American Movie Classics back in the '90s (The first was Kentucky Kernels). All I remembered from back then was a duet of Wheeler and Dorothy Lee singing while the latter was drunk. This was made during both Prohibition and before the Production Code was strictly enforced so gags are depicted that probably would have not passed muster just a few years later. It's largely during the last 30 minutes that things really take a hilarious turn but there's plenty of amusing scenes throughout. So on that note, I recommend Caught Plastered.

Another big hit for the comedy team of Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey, Caught Plastered is set in a drugstore the boys take on to save a nice old lady from the clutches of the local charming crook, played by Jason Robards Snr. All the usual elements are here - wisecracks, double takes, a song and dance number, the perky Dorothy Lee - and the film is really rather good. The plot takes advantage of the fact that Prohibition was still very much in force, and the opening titles have a cartoon train rushing through the landscape. Highly recommended.

This is probably Wheeler & Woolsey's best film! It concerns the old stage-play scenerio of an old widow who is being swindled into selling her store & moving into the Old Folks Home. W & W meet her just in the nick of time, and turn her failing store into a thriving enterprise. This film is notable for being a "period-piece" -- there are all sorts of references to Prohibition, and the "bad guys" substitute booze for the "lemon soda" in the Old Lady's drugstore (getting everyone drunk & arrested!). W & W are in "top form", with plenty of wisecracks, jokes, and funny situations (one of them being on the run from railroad agent Charles Middleton, for riding on a train without a ticket (or money!). This film brings back a MUCH simpler, happier, innocent time, and for that reason alone it's worth seeing! Norm (PS...I'm a W & W fan, but DON"T see their "Rio Rita"; it's a TERRIBLE film! Abbot & Costello remade it, and the scene that A & C aren't in are terrible, also!).