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Actors: James Stewart, Paulette Goddard, Charles Winninger, Mary Gordon, Horace Heidt
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Pot O'Gold |
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Jimmy Haskel (James Stewart) is a small time music shop owner. He is content to run the inherited family business just getting by. Although he is popular with the townsfolk, he is not so popular with the bill collectors. The shop isn't making enough money to remain open. This is an opportune moment for Jimmy's Uncle C. J. (Charles Winninger) Haskel and he shows up at just the right time. He has been pressing Jimmy to close up shop and come work for him at the health food factory. Jimmy has resisted but with no hope of keeping the shop open, he agrees.
Jimmy heads into town and it seems to be a really happy place. Everyone is singing and dancing as a band plays. Everyone except C. J. Haskel because he really hates music. Even though his factory makes huge booms it doesn't annoy him near as much as the family next door. The McCorkle family has a band who practices on their roof. Old man Haskel has been trying to force Mrs. McCorkel (Mary Gordon) out so that he can expand his factory. This, along with their musical differences has created a running feud.
No one in town really likes Mr. Haskel either. This is proven when he stomps over to Ma McCorkel's with intent to have the music stopped. Jimmy just happens to walk into the scene where a pretty young lady named Molly (Paulette Goddard) is about to throw a tomato. He offers to throw it for her and makes a perfect hit. Only then does he realize that the target was his Uncle C. J. He and Molly flee the scene.
Their escape is perfect and Molly takes Jimmy home for a doughnut reward. She begins to tell Jimmy about how much the town hates the Haskel name. This makes it very difficult for Jimmy to tell her who he really is. Especially when she asks him to take one of the rooms upstairs near the other band members. Even though he feels it's wrong, he decides to stay because he really likes Molly and her family. The feeling is mutual for them after they find out he is the tomato shooter. A small musical practice session furthers their fondness as Jimmy joins right in with his harmonica.
Things are going great until Lieutenant Grady comes in. Molly credits Jimmy with throwing the tomato and he is taken to jail. Jimmy is petrified that his uncle will find out it was him. Luckily he has a sympathetic judge (who also dislikes old Haskel) and he is cheaply bailed out by the McCorkels. Uncle C. J. shows up for the case but instead of getting justice, he gets a contempt citation. Not having any money on him, he is sent directly to jail. There he is forced by the other prisoners to sing and sing he does. He sings until he looses his voice. This makes it impossible for him to do his radio show, The Haskel Happy Hour. Jimmy must therefore take over and does not realize that he will be heard by two of the band members. These band members have a keen ear and recognize Jimmy's distinct voice. He returns to the house not knowing that the cat is out of the bag. Even though he is a Haskel, the boys forgive him but tell him that Molly probably won't and they decide not to tell her. Jimmy cannot stand to keep it from her any longer. He tells Molly the truth then takes his leave straight away to Uncle C. J. 's mansion.
Jimmy really wants to make things up with Molly and comes up with a plan to get rid of his uncle for a while. This way he can try to get the band a break on the radio show. He and the band members convince old C. J. that he is under too much stress and needs a vacation. The do this by playing music through the duct work and over the telephone. They also have the girls dance on the lawn denying that they see or har anything. Uncle C. J. is convinced and decides on a vacation in the Canadian wilderness.
This give Jimmy free reign and he goes to work making his radio show plan. He is lucky enough to get the band a live booking at the local country club. With Horace Heidt and his orchestra as back up, the show is a huge success. Bad news is that Uncle C. J. happens to be at the trading post and hears what is going on. He is further enraged when he hears Molly announce, out of spite for Jimmy, that Haskel will be giving away one thousand dollars next week. The old man rushes out the door to begin the long journey home. Jimmy is once again fearful of what his uncle will say.
This becomes a minor problem as the IRS shows up at Jimmy's door. They are there to make sure that all of the rules are followed in the money give away. Of course, Jimmy has no clue about how to give the money away. He only has one week to come up with a solution or someone will face prosecution. Can he do it?
--Talea, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Pot O'Gold |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Comedy, primarily
Yes
Time/era of movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Kind of comedy
- musical
How much humor v. drama
- Nearly all humor
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- singer/musician
Age:
- 20's-30's
Eccentric:
Yes
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard wavey
Body type
- (man) average
Events of movie makes character more...
- irritated
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Irish
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn straight
Body type
- (woman) average
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Irish/McCourt
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 60's-90's
Profession/status:
- business executive
Eccentric:
Yes
- eccentric
- emotionally unstable
- obsessed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 80%
Hair color
- white
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) fat
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Irish/McCourt
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Setting
Small town?
Yes
Small town people:
- nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Movie makes you feel...
- full of laughter
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- None
If lots of song/dance...
- lot of singing and dancing
If soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Orchestra/classical
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Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Talea
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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