Pardon My Past

In his only time in this particular role Fred MacMurray doubled as producer as well as well as star Pardon My Past. He also plays dual roles in the film in one of those mistaken identity films.

MacMurray and William Demarest fresh out of the service just want to get some new clothes and head off to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin to start a mink farm. But a couple of strong arm guys grab them both and hustle them off to Akim Tamiroff who says MacMurray owes him $12,000.00 and calls him by a different name.

When they go to look up this doppleganger at the address they discovered, they also discover MacMurrray is a rich and spoiled playboy who's been living in Mexico. He has an estranged wife Rita Johnson and a daughter Karolyn Grimes. There's money there, but it's controlled by an avaricious uncle Douglass Dumbrille. When playboy MacMurray also shows up it gets interesting.

Pardon My Past is funny in spots, but the parts are greater than the whole itself. MacMurray disliked the role of producer and never did it again. According to Charles Tranberg's biography of him, MacMurray would henceforth pick up his paycheck say his lines and leave the rest to other hands.

Not one of Fred's best films, but decent enough.