Here Comes Cookie/Love in Bloo

 

 

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Vaudeville and radio stars George Burns and Gracie Allen seldom starred in their movies; they were usually comedy relief or part of an all-star format. This DVD features the only two "Burns & Allen" features, and at times you'll think they're merely guest stars, because they aren't always the center of attention.

HERE COMES COOKIE (which does NOT feature the hit tune of that name) has tycoon George Barbier discouraging fortune hunters, by temporarily entrusting his money to scatterbrained Gracie, much to secretary George's consternation. Gracie promptly turns the mansion into a theatrical flophouse! You might be scratching your head at some of this -- it wanders from scene to scene haphazardly and sometimes abruptly -- but there are some good gags and Gracie sings a Latin number, "The Vamp of the Pampas." A fun little quickie, accent on "little."

LOVE IN BLOOM (which does not feature the title song but DOES feature "Here Comes Cookie" sung by Gracie -- typical Gracie Allen logic!) is the story of hard-boiled Dixie Lee (Mrs. Bing Crosby) and softhearted Joe Morrison trying to get along in the big city. Joe Morrison (in a role perhaps intended for Bing) has a pleasant manner and a very easy way with dialogue; he should have gone farther in pictures. Burns & Allen are the nominal stars but they appear only occasionally as a couple of carnival employees.

SIX OF A KIND is a 63-minute exercise in frustration directed by Leo McCarey. Burns & Allen play traveling companions from hell, who make a cross-country automobile trip miserable for Charlie Ruggles and Mary Boland. W. C. Fields and Alison Skipworth are seen in the second half as a shifty sheriff and a hotel proprietor. Director McCarey concentrates on all the cruel and terrible complications, making Gracie unsympathetic instead of charming. Fields does his celebrated "pool table" routine, but it's Charlie Ruggles who steals the film with his understated reactions and remarks.

Universal deserves applause for releasing these seldom-seen comedies from the vault. The three features are all on one single-sided disc, with no apparent loss in quality. Movie buffs will enjoy the set; those who only care about George and Gracie will have to sit through (or fast-forward through) a lot of other stuff, but the Burns & Allen routines are worth waiting for. Excellent picture and sound quality throughout.

Universal has released onto DVD three from the vaults;Here comes Cookie(Sept./35),Six of a Kind(Feb/34) and Love in Bloom(April/35).All dusted off and looking very good after all these years,the films are a welcome sight and gives modern audiences a chance to see George Burns and his beloved wife Gracie Allen.Many times in the ensuing years after Gracies' passing from us in 1964,George Burns would tell audiences she had been the heart and soul of the act.She indeed HAD been that and that is why it is so nice to be able to see this oh so talented lady once again,whatever the vehicle she is in.Gracies character was one that talked like Betty Boop and had a head full of air;but she was always lovable and always had the best of intentions.George Burns on the other hand played the put-upon and sometimes bamboozled partner.George was really her straight man and set up the gags and situations for Gracie.They were a headlining act in vaudeville for years and they successfully parlayed it into the theater,the stage and later television;and audiences loved them.Though these offerings are just middle of the roaders,they offer us a glimpse of the two in their prime and the duo never fail to please and more importantly,amuse.
Here comes Cookie,gives us George as an assistant to a millionaire by the name of Harrison Allen(George Barbier).His daughter Phyllis(Betty Furness)is being pursued by a latin "lover" who is just after her inheritance.Harrison decides that the best thing to do,in order to expose his true colours, is to give all his money to his other daughter Gracie.Gracie is to tell no one,while father goes back to his old hometown leaving her in charge.Big mistake.Gracie of course takes everything to the letter and beyond.She snips and tears all the house staffs clothing to simulate being poor,she fills the house with out of work show biz acts, and fails to send her father ANY money whatsoever and who actually becomes poor.Insanity prevails throughout the house as the butler is even forced to sleep outside on a park bench due to a lack of accommodations.Then Gracie strikes on an idea to put all her guests to work,so she transforms the house into a theater.Her father makes it back home,no thanks to Gracie,and although horrified by what he finds he nevertheless cannot argue with the utter success of the show.The latin has since shifted gears and has been wooing Gracie,but when Phyllis sees that her father was right,he is unceremoniously booted from the premises.All ends happily as George reluctantly(through pressure from the father) agrees to marry Gracie.
This film gives Burns and Allen alot to play with but overall this really highlights Gracie and she runs with it.Turning the house into a home for stray actors makes for many hilarious on screen moments,especially as George and the butler(Andrew Tombes)try to lead as normal a life as they can under the increasingly insane circumstances.
Six of a Kind stars the pair along with Charles Ruggles and Mary Boland as Mr and Mrs.Whinney,WC Fields as Sheriff Hoxley and Allison Skipworth as Mrs.Rumford,a hotel owner.Mr & Mrs.Whinney are in bad need of a vacation and so they plan one for themselves.The missus puts an ad in the paper for two people to come along with them to their destination in California.As the car is packed Mr Whinney discovers the ad has been answered by George,Gracie and their pet Great Dane.Off they go but Mr.Whinney unknowingly has had one of his bags switched.He works at a local bank and a fellow employee planning to steal 50 grand from them gets the idea to make the switch,then collect the money later where the Whinneys are staying.However due to the Whinney's passengers,the well "advertised" itinerary was changed.Through a series of "occurrences" the Whinneys financial situation gets precariously low and Mr Whinney wires his employers for money.However the missing bank money has been noticed and the bank execs thinks Mr Whinney is the culprit.The police and the employee(who really stole the cash)are in a race to reach the Whinney's first.At the hotel the owner has found the stolen money and she informs the local Sheriff,but not trusting him she removes the cash in the night and flees to get the authorities out of town.With the cash gone the Sheriff conducts a big "Investigation",his biggest suspect Mr Whinney,who by this time is at his wits end.In the end the employee who has beaten the outside authorities to the hotel has inadvertently gotten himself captured,through no help of the Sheriff.
This movie has many humourous moments with veteran actors Charles Ruggles and WC Fields.Ruggles plays the put upon and frustrated husband to a tee and his delivery was an area in which he was a master of.What from many actors would have been mediocre and flat,Ruggles could breathe life into the most mundane of material and give it a life of its own.WC Fields is here showing off some of his famous vaudeville routines and the pool scene is certainly one of his classics.His turn as the bungling Sheriff who manages to make good even though he is screwing up time and again,and knows it,is great stuff to watch.The movie was directed by ex-Roach man Leo McCarey and he brought some Roach stalwarts over to appear in this one such as the two crooks who rob the Whinneys(Walter Long,one of them) and there's a cameo by Harry Bernard,wearing a visor.
Lastly Love in Bloom stars Dixie Lee(Bing Crosbys first wife) as Violet Downey.Her father is a circus owner(a drinker at that)but tired of the life,she runs away to the big city to get away from it all.George and Gracie are two fellow performers who are sent by the father to locate her for money he needs from her.When the two arrive back with the money,sans Violet,he sends them back.In the meantime Violet has met up with an aspiring singer Larry Deane(Joe Morrison).They both get a job in a music shop run by Pop Heinrich(Lee Kolmar),who over time takes the two under his wing and all become very close.Violet keeps her circus past hidden as long as she can and it almost comes out more than a few times.The father finally shows up at a wedding,not theirs,and makes a fool of himself(drunk) by interrupting the ceremony.It is then revealed that Violet is his daughter and that he wants her back at the circus,back to her own world where she belongs.Time passes and while Violet is getting by in her old circus routine,Larry has finally hit the big time.Never having forgotten his love for her,he returns to do two things:buy the circus Violet works in and to take his love away and finally do what they had always wanted to do;get married.
George and Gracie have the least amount of screen time in this film and are used here as comic relief,and nothing much more.There are only a few good moments and one is a cute scene in Pops music store where Gracie tries to sell the store back to Pops!The love story played out between Lee and Morrison is played actually rather well done and without too much sentimentality,so it at least manages to keep some semblance of interest.
Technically these films have been transferred wonderfully.The prints are crisp and the contrast wonderful.There are no special features included and the films have been put on one disc,one side.
If some are wondering why Universal would be distributing Paramount films the reason lies in the late /50s when Paramount sold hundreds upon hundreds of titles to Universal,made between /29 and /49.
In conclusion,all in all a nice trio of movies but not alot more than average fare is here.Love in Bloom will be of less interest due to George and Gracie being a less of a force than in the others,but the story still manages to please nonetheless.The two that vie for top spot here are Here comes Cookie and Six of a Kind.My vote is for the latter in the number one spot as there is just so many more comic moments provided by some great screen veterans in this one.However despite what one may or may not think of a particular film,it is ALWAYS a joy to see George Burns and especially his lovely off-screen wife Gracie Allen together again.The character which Gracie honed to perfection was loved by millions and was the heart,soul and light of the Burns and Allen act.They just do not make them like that anymore.I recommend these films to not only those who remember Burns and Allen but to new fans,so they make catch some of the humourous "magic" they so warmly created.

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