Fun on a Weekend

You do not need to wait until the weekend to enjoy this film. Its type of merriment can be enjoyed any old day of the week. Maybe that's because of Priscilla Lane, who plays her part with such coolness and ease that it's a truly a delight to watch her.

In fact, this is one of Miss Lane's last films, and it might be called a triumphant comic performance at that. It reminds me of her earlier screwball antics in ARSENIC AND OLD LACE. Only this time instead of Cary Grant, her sparring partner is Eddie Bracken, who brings his own unique brand of humor and energy to the proceedings. The story starts quite simply but as complications ensue and the laughs snowball, it becomes increasingly obvious (and increasingly painful for one's ribcage) that this is a fun film!

Priscilla Lane and Eddie Bracken meet on the beach, where they've both slept. They're broke, but Bracken has ideas about how to meet and influence the wealthy into getting what they want. He doesn't have the nerve to do so. Miss Lane has the nerve, so they go into partnership by bulge and bluster, their only ally a Great Dane who likes to eat furniture legs.

Andrew L. Stone wrote, produced, and directed this comedy. He was one of the auteurs in Hollywood in this era, and reasonably successful; from 1944 through 1972, he directed a score of movies, few of them major, but usually quite profitable, within a wide range of genres. He died in 1999, aged 96.

There's quite a cast of farceurs here, but the movie is timed a trifle slow lending it an air of anxiety that reflects the threat of Bracken and Miss Lane's plans collapsing. The best role belongs to Fritz Feld as a paranoid pianist, but there are moments for Tom Conway, Allen Jenkins, Clarence Kolb, and Arthur Treacher.

Borrowing quite liberally from the Mark Twain short story classic The Million Pound Note, Fun On A Weekend doesn't even give protagonists Eddie Bracken and Priscilla Lane even a note for a $1.25. But what they do give him is the incredibly posh and WASPy name of Peterson Price Porterhouse and the film puts forth the proposition that if you've got a high falutin' name like that doors just automatically open with the right gift of gab.

Bracken and Lane are a pair of tourists on vacation in Florida, but who apparently planned poorly because they've got no money between them and can't even get a meal at Allen Jenkins greasy spoon restaurant on the beach front. But with his name and the fact that Bracken and Lane decide to pretend they're married, they go off on a wild revolving con game getting all kinds of things charged to their non-existent credit because the rich and famous think they're two of them.

Fun On A Weekend was an independent film shot on a shoestring and released by United Artists. However that doesn't detract one bit from the witty lines and incredible situations that Bracken and Lane bluff their way through. Along the way they pick up a big boxer dog who adopts them and who likes to chew very high class mahogany style wood. What he does to concert pianist Fritz Feld's piano is positively hilarious.

This film is an undiscovered comedy gem, I'm so happy TCM decided to air it, hopefully it will be back soon.

"Fun on a Weekend" was written, directed, and produced by Andrew Stone... heck, he even used his wife as the musical director. Eddie Bracken plays a down on his luck guy, who bumps into a girl who's also in money trouble. Not a very strong script, but props to Allen Jenkins for his "Abbott & Costello" comedy bits in the diner. Too bad he got all the good lines. They also rely on the antics of a dog who befriends them for more comedic bits... It's not a total washout, but the plot feels forced, as if they are just going through the motions. Keep an eye out for Clarence Kolb as the stuffy, old rich guy... he always played the cranky old man, the judge, or the wealthy uncle. Also note the hotel bell clerk is Bill Benedict - he was the tall, blond guy from the Bowery Boys, and was called "Whitey" in most of the films he did. There's no spark between Bracken and the blond co-star Priscilla Lane, but some of the gags are amusing.

I noticed that several of the reviews for "Fun on a Weekend" are glowing. Unfortunately, there also were some who definitely disliked it...and I tend towards their opinion about this movie...mostly because the plot is so difficult to believe and the characters are pretty dishonest.

Pete and Nancy (Eddie Bracken and Priscilla Lane) are both homeless and out of work and are living on the beach...where they both meet. Pete has an unusual notion...that if you ACT like you are rich and important, people will treat you better and riches will await you. Of course, a lot of grifters have the same notions! Regardless, they do become cons, of sorts, and begin working their way up in society by lying about their background...which made it hard for me to actually care about these characters.

Overall, a film that tries very hard but unlikable characters, a dog who makes no sense at all (he eats table legs...ha, ha) and a ridiculous plot. It's not one I'd wish to see again.