Shoot the Works

Getting the love or getting the loot; that's what most early movies were about, and some were about getting both. That's why my favorite movies from that era aren't about either: "Lady for a Day" (1933), "M" (1931), "Comradeship" (1931), "I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang" (1932), and "Broken Lullaby" (1932). They all were bold enough and inventive enough to make a movie with an aim other than getting the love or getting the loot.

"Shoot the Works" is about getting both.

The main character, Nicky Nelson (Jack Oakie), is the loveable loser. He has millions of money-making entertainment ideas and not one of them is any good. He had a small band of devotees who helped bring his ideas to life, but it was all nickel-and-dime stuff.

When Nicky met Lily Raquel, played by Dorothy Dell (a talented actress who died at the tender age of nineteen), he thought his fortunes would change. Lily was truly talented. They began working together, created a catchy song, and fell in love. Then, as losers do, in a matter of a few scenes he lost her and the song. The truth is he gambled away the song which prompted Lily to bail on him and make a go at it alone. Even though they were apart and trying their best to forget about each other, they couldn't. Nicky would have to do something to get his love and the loot for this to be a happily-ever-after.

I watched this movie for Alison Skipworth whom I saw precious little of. She had a small role as one of Nicky Nelson's gang. I'm not a big Jack Oakie fan. Truthfully, with the exception of Charlie Chaplin, and George Burns and Gracie Allen, I didn't like many of the comedians back then--Jimmy Durante, Jack Oakie, Charles Ruggles, The Marx Brothers, W. C. Fields--they were all fine in small doses, but I didn't like them to carry an entire movie.

"Shoot the Works" was a lukewarm comedy that didn't move the needle. It was nothing special and quite short on laughs, and it wasn't aided by the musical numbers. File this movie under standard stuff that was largely forgettable.

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