Reviews (9)

Another great Preston Sturges film..
The idea of former silent comedy star Harold Lloyd teaming with the great Hollywood auteur Preston Sturges was truly inspired and the result, this film, is proof.

Embedded in the same job for 22 years, Harold Diddlebock (Lloyd) goes nowhere fast, forever, until he's let go by his supercilious, unctuous boss (throw in any other similar adjective and it would fit).

Harold loves adages, epigrams, and saws, and for the entire span of his working life, has the wall next to his desk plastered with them. When he's let go, he removes every last one of them and takes them with him, so as not to forget the truth of what life is all about. Or at least those parts of life for which these adages apply.

Thus, our hero is a rather, shall we say, by the book kinda guy. So when he goes on an unintentional bender, this radical restructuring of his brain molecules brings about some decidedly unexpected results. He buys a plaid suit loud enough to wake people living on the other side of the world. He buys a cowboy hat big enough to double as a doghouse for a Doberman pinscher (or however you spell that darn dog's name). And he buys a circus, too.

Yep, a circus--one of the main attractions of which is Jackie the lion. Jackie means well, but her bark (roar, is more like it) is definitely worse than her bite. In fact, her bite never happens, but the bark/roar is there a lot of the time. This gets Harold into big trouble, and therein lies the rub.

One of the best screwball comedies of the 40s (made in 1947), The Sin of Harold Diddlebock should not be missed by fans of great comedy. Well folks, we now have Sullivan's Travels, The Sin of Harold Diddlebock, and The Lady Eve on DVD. There's talk of Palm Beach Story following in the relatively near future--hopefully true, since that is a pure gem. Now how about Unfaithfully Yours, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, and even more?

Preston Sturges forever!!

Very Underrated
This film is generally reviewed as a failed Sturges movie. However, anyone who loves the insanity of movies like "The Miracle of Morgan Creek" will probably love this one too. This film stands up to repeated viewings. It would be great to see a DVD with both "Mad Wednesday" and the slightly different cut "The Sin of Harold Diddlebock."

You Arouse the Artist in Me.
Is how the bartender responds to Harold Diddlebock (Harold Lloyd) when told that he's about to have the first drink of his life.

Harold gets talked into it by 'Wormy' a deliciously street-wise octagenerian urchin that asks him for a loan of a couple of bucks. Harold complies, despite the fact that he's just been fired from his job.

The inspired bartender concurs with Wormy that Harold needs a drink to ease his troubles and---in a scene only Preston Sturges could have written---creates a "Diddlebock" in his honor.

Originally entitled 'The Sin of Harold Diddlebock', the real sin is in being unable to rent it in most video stores. This has got to be one of the top comedies ever made.

Lloyd came out of retirement to make this film after meeting and befriending kindred maniac, Preston Sturges.

In "Mad Wednesday" Lloyd performs some of the funniest sight gags ever captured on celluloid, employing his trademark high-risk stunts. (Ever see 'Safety Last'?) Houdini would have been proud.

In all his movies Lloyd played a hopelessly naive gung-ho optimist who triumphed against the world despite his childlike sweetness.

But here the formula takes a twist, thanks to Sturges.

Lloyd is now a middle aged failure who has been stuck in a menial job for the last twenty years, a weary, disillusioned man who is pathetically in love with his co-worker, an impossibly beautiful ingenue (There's always an impossibly beautiful ingenue in a Sturges film ). And then he gets fired. . .

Neddless to say, all will end well, and he will triumph and get the girl in the end.

But not before going berserk on "The Diddlebock" which transforms him from a meek innocent into a lunatic gambler and high roller with a taste for um... somewhat loud attire.

Poor Harold wakes up sober two days later to find himself the owner of a circus, replete with strongmen and bearded ladies who are owed back pay and hungry lions that need to be fed.

It's all silly fluff of course but the genius of Preston Sturges's writing makes us cheerfully suspend our disbelief and go along for the ride.

Only Lubitsch and Billy Wilder came close to Sturges in the ability to give the audience superbly witty dialogue while maintaining a believable world of madcap lunacy where events move at breakneck speed.

An great farce, starring a comic legend, written and and directed by the best.

Enjoy.

Harold Diddlebock it would be a sin to not see it
This was so funny. Made me think of the Bringing up Baby, and Philadelphia Story and some of Lucille Ball's antics. Sight gags and rapid funny dialogue. First few minutes kind of slow but once it gets going it was hilarious. I loved the bartender scene. As a fan of movies made before 1960, I cannot understand why I have not heard about this movie before. I can only say it is funny and you will enjoy it. I would let my grandchildren watch this movie.

Overreader

Harold Lloyd's last film, made with Preston Sturges
Harold Lloyd came out of his unofficial retirement for one last film with writer/director Preston Sturges. This sounded like a wonderful pairing, but the two comic geniuses had totally different approaches to the material. The result is really two films: "The Sin of Harold Diddlebock," the original version was released by United Artists in 1947, with the re-edited version (ordered by Howard Hughes), now titled "Mad Wednesday," released by RKO in 1950. The film went from 89 to 76 minutes in length, but in addition to things being cut there were also some outtakes put back into the film.

Both films open with the famous football finale from Lloyd's silent classic, "The Freshman." Because of his success, young Harold Diddlebock (Lloyd) is offered a job when he graduates college. An enthusiastic Harold looks at a 1923 calendar adorned with the stern visage of President Harding. The next thing we know it is 1945 and Harold is still at the same desk, with President Truman looking on disapprovingly from the calendar. When he is dismissed from his job, Harold goes on a drinking spree and when he blows $1000 on a racehorse, it comes in at 15-to-1. When Thursday morning comes Harold does not remember a thing about the day before (i.e., Mad Wednesday) and discovers he owns a circus. His brain finally turned on again, Harold heads for Wall Street in the company of a lion, determined to make his fortune at long last. Of course, Harold ends up on the ledge of a building as the master daredevil comedian of the silent era does one last grand stunt. "Mad Wednesday" certainly has holes in it, but then there are scenes that redeem the film, at least as far as I am concerned. More than either Chaplin or Keaton, Lloyd proved himself adept at SOUND comedy, mainly because he had the advantage of dialogue written by Sturges. Neither version is a great film, but both include great comic moments. If you can find both of them, a double-feature with "The Freshman" and "Mad Wednesday" makes perfect sense. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Nicely Done Romantic Comedy!!
In "The Admiral Was A Lady" is about a navy ex-wave after the war who is chased by 4 funloving men who want to marry her.It's a nicely done romantic comedy starring Edmond O'Brien and Wanda Hendrix.Check it out!! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Another great Preston Sturges film..
The idea of former silent comedy star Harold Lloyd teaming with the great Hollywood auteur Preston Sturges was truly inspired and the result, this film, is proof.

Embedded in the same job for 22 years, Harold Diddlebock (Lloyd) goes nowhere fast, forever, until he's let go by his supercilious, unctuous boss (throw in any other similar adjective and it would fit).

Harold loves adages, epigrams, and saws, and for the entire span of his working life, has the wall next to his desk plastered with them. When he's let go, he removes every last one of them and takes them with him, so as not to forget the truth of what life is all about. Or at least those parts of life for which these adages apply.

Thus, our hero is a rather, shall we say, by the book kinda guy. So when he goes on an unintentional bender, this radical restructuring of his brain molecules brings about some decidedly unexpected results. He buys a plaid suit loud enough to wake people living on the other side of the world. He buys a cowboy hat big enough to double as a doghouse for a Doberman pinscher (or however you spell that darn dog's name). And he buys a circus, too.

Yep, a circus--one of the main attractions of which is Jackie the lion. Jackie means well, but her bark (roar, is more like it) is definitely worse than her bite. In fact, her bite never happens, but the bark/roar is there a lot of the time. This gets Harold into big trouble, and therein lies the rub.

One of the best screwball comedies of the 40s (made in 1947), The Sin of Harold Diddlebock should not be missed by fans of great comedy. Well folks, we now have Sullivan's Travels, The Sin of Harold Diddlebock, and The Lady Eve on DVD. There's talk of Palm Beach Story following in the relatively near future--hopefully true, since that is a pure gem. Now how about Unfaithfully Yours, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, and even more?

Preston Sturges forever!!

Very Underrated
This film is generally reviewed as a failed Sturges movie. However, anyone who loves the insanity of movies like "The Miracle of Morgan Creek" will probably love this one too. This film stands up to repeated viewings. It would be great to see a DVD with both "Mad Wednesday" and the slightly different cut "The Sin of Harold Diddlebock."

You Arouse the Artist in Me.
Is how the bartender responds to Harold Diddlebock (Harold Lloyd) when told that he's about to have the first drink of his life.

Harold gets talked into it by 'Wormy' a deliciously street-wise octagenerian urchin that asks him for a loan of a couple of bucks. Harold complies, despite the fact that he's just been fired from his job.

The inspired bartender concurs with Wormy that Harold needs a drink to ease his troubles and---in a scene only Preston Sturges could have written---creates a "Diddlebock" in his honor.

Originally entitled 'The Sin of Harold Diddlebock', the real sin is in being unable to rent it in most video stores. This has got to be one of the top comedies ever made.

Lloyd came out of retirement to make this film after meeting and befriending kindred maniac, Preston Sturges.

In "Mad Wednesday" Lloyd performs some of the funniest sight gags ever captured on celluloid, employing his trademark high-risk stunts. (Ever see 'Safety Last'?) Houdini would have been proud.

In all his movies Lloyd played a hopelessly naive gung-ho optimist who triumphed against the world despite his childlike sweetness.

But here the formula takes a twist, thanks to Sturges.

Lloyd is now a middle aged failure who has been stuck in a menial job for the last twenty years, a weary, disillusioned man who is pathetically in love with his co-worker, an impossibly beautiful ingenue (There's always an impossibly beautiful ingenue in a Sturges film ). And then he gets fired. . .

Neddless to say, all will end well, and he will triumph and get the girl in the end.

But not before going berserk on "The Diddlebock" which transforms him from a meek innocent into a lunatic gambler and high roller with a taste for um... somewhat loud attire.

Poor Harold wakes up sober two days later to find himself the owner of a circus, replete with strongmen and bearded ladies who are owed back pay and hungry lions that need to be fed.

It's all silly fluff of course but the genius of Preston Sturges's writing makes us cheerfully suspend our disbelief and go along for the ride.

Only Lubitsch and Billy Wilder came close to Sturges in the ability to give the audience superbly witty dialogue while maintaining a believable world of madcap lunacy where events move at breakneck speed.

An great farce, starring a comic legend, written and and directed by the best.

Enjoy.

Harold Diddlebock it would be a sin to not see it
This was so funny. Made me think of the Bringing up Baby, and Philadelphia Story and some of Lucille Ball's antics. Sight gags and rapid funny dialogue. First few minutes kind of slow but once it gets going it was hilarious. I loved the bartender scene. As a fan of movies made before 1960, I cannot understand why I have not heard about this movie before. I can only say it is funny and you will enjoy it. I would let my grandchildren watch this movie.

Overreader

Harold Lloyd's last film, made with Preston Sturges
Harold Lloyd came out of his unofficial retirement for one last film with writer/director Preston Sturges. This sounded like a wonderful pairing, but the two comic geniuses had totally different approaches to the material. The result is really two films: "The Sin of Harold Diddlebock," the original version was released by United Artists in 1947, with the re-edited version (ordered by Howard Hughes), now titled "Mad Wednesday," released by RKO in 1950. The film went from 89 to 76 minutes in length, but in addition to things being cut there were also some outtakes put back into the film.

Both films open with the famous football finale from Lloyd's silent classic, "The Freshman." Because of his success, young Harold Diddlebock (Lloyd) is offered a job when he graduates college. An enthusiastic Harold looks at a 1923 calendar adorned with the stern visage of President Harding. The next thing we know it is 1945 and Harold is still at the same desk, with President Truman looking on disapprovingly from the calendar. When he is dismissed from his job, Harold goes on a drinking spree and when he blows $1000 on a racehorse, it comes in at 15-to-1. When Thursday morning comes Harold does not remember a thing about the day before (i.e., Mad Wednesday) and discovers he owns a circus. His brain finally turned on again, Harold heads for Wall Street in the company of a lion, determined to make his fortune at long last. Of course, Harold ends up on the ledge of a building as the master daredevil comedian of the silent era does one last grand stunt. "Mad Wednesday" certainly has holes in it, but then there are scenes that redeem the film, at least as far as I am concerned. More than either Chaplin or Keaton, Lloyd proved himself adept at SOUND comedy, mainly because he had the advantage of dialogue written by Sturges. Neither version is a great film, but both include great comic moments. If you can find both of them, a double-feature with "The Freshman" and "Mad Wednesday" makes perfect sense. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime is a Great movie
My name is Amanda and I'm in a 10th grade world history class. We are currently studying the Great Depression and WWII and we have just finished watching Brother, Can You Spare a Dime. This movie helped me to understand not only the culture and life of this era but also helped me to understand the things that led up to the Depression and Stock market crash as well as Pearl Harbor and WWII. I'd recommend this movie to anyone who wants an entertaining way to learn a bit about history.

Hindered by lack of commentary
Although this documentary brings together a lot of interesting footage, lack of a commentary means that a viewer without a close knowledge of the period in question will find themselves wondering, "Who were those people, and why was what they were doing of historical significance?" On the other hand, if you are very familiar with the politics and culture of the US in the 1930s, this may provide some useful illustrative imagery. I suspect that, these days, more people will fall into the first category.

Something Everyone Should Watch!
Shows the real down in the trenches struggle of America during the depression. In our times of prosperity and wealth, we sometimes forget it wasn't so long ago that money was almost impossible to come by, soup lines were many peoples only source of survival and life without all the gadgets and other pleasures we take for granted is very tough.
Saletag. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

My Dull Secretary
This snoozer is boring and drags on and on. Even if you are a fan of old movies you probably will not like it. Do yourself a favor and skip it.

Snapshot of a point in time
The film is worth watching for its portrait of a time long gone, but not interesting enough to watch twice. I expected a wittier film than I got, but enjoyed looking at the great costumes worn by Laraine Day. The problem is that the story is perfunctory and jerkily paced. Kirk Douglas is the weakest character. No way do you believe that Kirk Douglas has fallen in love with Loraine Day, or that the swift turnabouts in personality are credible. But Laraine glows and is fun to watch, and the supporting characters are interesting.

Kirk's Best Movie!
For those of you who may have stumbled on this movie by accident, let me tell you that for the price you won't find a better movie. The comedy is sharp and the dialogue is better than any episode of Frasier. Wynn rules as the Godfather Of All Slackers: "If you have the opportunity to get paid for doing nothing then grab it, you fool!". ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Nicely Done Romantic Comedy!!
In "The Admiral Was A Lady" is about a navy ex-wave after the war who is chased by 4 funloving men who want to marry her.It's a nicely done romantic comedy starring Edmond O'Brien and Wanda Hendrix.Check it out!! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

My Dull Secretary
This snoozer is boring and drags on and on. Even if you are a fan of old movies you probably will not like it. Do yourself a favor and skip it.

Snapshot of a point in time
The film is worth watching for its portrait of a time long gone, but not interesting enough to watch twice. I expected a wittier film than I got, but enjoyed looking at the great costumes worn by Laraine Day. The problem is that the story is perfunctory and jerkily paced. Kirk Douglas is the weakest character. No way do you believe that Kirk Douglas has fallen in love with Loraine Day, or that the swift turnabouts in personality are credible. But Laraine glows and is fun to watch, and the supporting characters are interesting.

Kirk's Best Movie!
For those of you who may have stumbled on this movie by accident, let me tell you that for the price you won't find a better movie. The comedy is sharp and the dialogue is better than any episode of Frasier. Wynn rules as the Godfather Of All Slackers: "If you have the opportunity to get paid for doing nothing then grab it, you fool!". ... Read more

Reviews (3)

My Dull Secretary
This snoozer is boring and drags on and on. Even if you are a fan of old movies you probably will not like it. Do yourself a favor and skip it.

Snapshot of a point in time
The film is worth watching for its portrait of a time long gone, but not interesting enough to watch twice. I expected a wittier film than I got, but enjoyed looking at the great costumes worn by Laraine Day. The problem is that the story is perfunctory and jerkily paced. Kirk Douglas is the weakest character. No way do you believe that Kirk Douglas has fallen in love with Loraine Day, or that the swift turnabouts in personality are credible. But Laraine glows and is fun to watch, and the supporting characters are interesting.

Kirk's Best Movie!
For those of you who may have stumbled on this movie by accident, let me tell you that for the price you won't find a better movie. The comedy is sharp and the dialogue is better than any episode of Frasier. Wynn rules as the Godfather Of All Slackers: "If you have the opportunity to get paid for doing nothing then grab it, you fool!". ... Read more

Reviews (3)

My Dull Secretary
This snoozer is boring and drags on and on. Even if you are a fan of old movies you probably will not like it. Do yourself a favor and skip it.

Snapshot of a point in time
The film is worth watching for its portrait of a time long gone, but not interesting enough to watch twice. I expected a wittier film than I got, but enjoyed looking at the great costumes worn by Laraine Day. The problem is that the story is perfunctory and jerkily paced. Kirk Douglas is the weakest character. No way do you believe that Kirk Douglas has fallen in love with Loraine Day, or that the swift turnabouts in personality are credible. But Laraine glows and is fun to watch, and the supporting characters are interesting.

Kirk's Best Movie!
For those of you who may have stumbled on this movie by accident, let me tell you that for the price you won't find a better movie. The comedy is sharp and the dialogue is better than any episode of Frasier. Wynn rules as the Godfather Of All Slackers: "If you have the opportunity to get paid for doing nothing then grab it, you fool!". ... Read more

Reviews (3)

My Dull Secretary
This snoozer is boring and drags on and on. Even if you are a fan of old movies you probably will not like it. Do yourself a favor and skip it.

Snapshot of a point in time
The film is worth watching for its portrait of a time long gone, but not interesting enough to watch twice. I expected a wittier film than I got, but enjoyed looking at the great costumes worn by Laraine Day. The problem is that the story is perfunctory and jerkily paced. Kirk Douglas is the weakest character. No way do you believe that Kirk Douglas has fallen in love with Loraine Day, or that the swift turnabouts in personality are credible. But Laraine glows and is fun to watch, and the supporting characters are interesting.

Kirk's Best Movie!
For those of you who may have stumbled on this movie by accident, let me tell you that for the price you won't find a better movie. The comedy is sharp and the dialogue is better than any episode of Frasier. Wynn rules as the Godfather Of All Slackers: "If you have the opportunity to get paid for doing nothing then grab it, you fool!". ... Read more

Reviews (3)

My Dull Secretary
This snoozer is boring and drags on and on. Even if you are a fan of old movies you probably will not like it. Do yourself a favor and skip it.

Snapshot of a point in time
The film is worth watching for its portrait of a time long gone, but not interesting enough to watch twice. I expected a wittier film than I got, but enjoyed looking at the great costumes worn by Laraine Day. The problem is that the story is perfunctory and jerkily paced. Kirk Douglas is the weakest character. No way do you believe that Kirk Douglas has fallen in love with Loraine Day, or that the swift turnabouts in personality are credible. But Laraine glows and is fun to watch, and the supporting characters are interesting.

Kirk's Best Movie!
For those of you who may have stumbled on this movie by accident, let me tell you that for the price you won't find a better movie. The comedy is sharp and the dialogue is better than any episode of Frasier. Wynn rules as the Godfather Of All Slackers: "If you have the opportunity to get paid for doing nothing then grab it, you fool!". ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Mama as Memory
Few films can tug at the heart strings as well as I REMEMBER MAMA. Adapted from the John Van Druten play, which was itself taken from the Kathryn Forbes novel, I REMEMBER MAMA captures indelibly slices of time in the life of a Norwegian family living in San Francisco at the turn of the 19th century. Narrated by a grown up Katrin (Barbara Bel Geddes), the film combines the problems of adapting to life in the United States with solutions that seem unworkable to those still steeped in the ways of the Old Country. At the center is Mama(Irene Dunne), who orchestrates the lives of her large extended family. Irene Dunne is superb with her profound understanding of human nature. She shows in scene after scene that a matriarch must be flexible enough to account for and guide the divergent personalities of her family. For her sisters, Mama makes it clear that she will not permit them to bully her vulnerable children. For her children, she extends praise when it is needed and stoicism when that is needed too. And for the boarder who skips town without paying his owed rent, she resigns herself that he has paid in a different coin, that of reading the classics to her children, thus inculcating in them a love of words. Surrounding Irene Dunne is a group of superb supporting actors, all of whom add flavor to a film that is linked only by the memories of Katrin. Perhaps the most outstanding job is the one done by the non-paying boarder, Mr.Hyde (Cedric Hardwicke), who nightly regales the family with timeless tales narrated in his booming voice, the sum total of which is to create a story within a story with each passing tale. Although the years pass, no one seems to age, and that is all right since the segue from scene to scene is accomplished so seamlessly that the audience scarcely notices. Oscar Homolka as Uncle Chris hits just the right note as the blustery yet kindly man who hides his kindness beneath a pushy attitude. Interspersed through key scenes in the movie are the appearances of Katrin, who interrupts the narrative to talk directly to the audience, commenting like a subdued omniscient narrator on the plot. Again, rather than putting off the audience with a style of narration that in another film would surely be seen as intrusive, in I REMEMBER MAMA, Katrin's comments, as well as all the various strands of the film, are seen instead as welcome threads that unite what could have been an aimless, disjointed movie into a chronicle of a family that rings true with each passing scene. Not many movies can come close to accomplishing this. Homolka, Bel Gedddes, and Dunne were all nominated for Academy Awards. This is truly one of the most heart-warming films of all time.

A families common goal
I enjoyed watching this film. Irene Dunn, who plays "Mama", does an excellent job holding this family together. She, also, does a great job of establishing and holding onto the treasures that makes this family blend together. What good memories I will have of this movie when I drink a cup of coffee. The movie is narrated by Barbara Bel Geddes. She brings the love this family has for each other by her presentation of the story. How many families do we know today who would share all aspects of the ups and downs a family faces, especially financial? Nothing was held back from anyone in the family which allowed them all to work towards one common goal.

they don't make them like this any more
it will make you cry and laugh a truley wonderful and memorable movie

dvd please
This is a magnificent performance by a wonderful artist, Irene Dunne, PLEASE....DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great Movie...see it!

A Hilarious, Touching Family Movie
Our whole family (ages 1-44) watched this movie together and every one of us (except the 1 yr old) laughed and cried throughout the whole thing. Dunne is an amazing actress for her day and plays "Mama" beautifully. Uncle Chris is a brilliant character that adds much color to this black-and-white film. The family- Mama's husband and children- are delightful to watch mature and grow up. The aunts are a load of fun! From beginning to end, this movie grabs your attention-and you will most certainly laugh! I also suggest reading the book "Mama's Bank Account" before or after watching the film. What a great movie! WONDERFUL! ... Read more