The Inside Story

This is a message film, as Dwan's independent post-war work would become increasingly in the 1950s. It struck me as an economics lesson on the velocity of money which I have heard as a one-minute burlesque joke, stretched out to a ninety-minute radio script and then given flawless movie visuals by Allan Dwan and his team. The youngsters play their roles seriously, except for Marsha Hunt, who shows a flair for comedy; I did enjoy the constant abuse of William Lundigan, the most wooden of would-be stars of the 1940s.

The old pros include Charles Winninger, who plays the Cornball Coot; Gene Lockhart, who runs through his apoplectic octuple take several times; Alan Jenkins in full Damon Runyon mode; Roscoe Karns, who reruns his character from IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT; and Florence Bates, who must have ruined many a take bursting out laughing. I know how she felt. I kept giggling, as did the rest of the audience.

Delightful post World War II comedy about how $1000 sitting in a hotel safe has a profound effect on several town residents when it is mistakenly removed from the safe. Witty script, fast paced and great character acting from Charles Winninger and Gene Lockhart. Probably was a deliberate post-war propaganda message about the value of circulating your money, not keeping it in banks.

The title "The Inside Story" sounds a little distant and erudite for this movie, which is rural in its setting and country in its people, but the program is warm, gentle, and cautionary. The film captivates the viewer in large measure because it expertly showcases several of the more recognizable and appreciated character actors and B-picture players of the 1940's and thereafter (just review the cast list!).

The story develops evenly and deliberately as we become privy to the little Vermont town's just a little less-than-perfect local political and social structure. Republic made an entertaining and coherent movie and it looks sharp, boasting good direction and carefully developed and applied production values. Spending time observing the townsfolk realize and confront their troubles while a few choice visitors make their presence felt was very much enjoyed.

The film begins in 1948 but the bulk of it is shown in a flashback to 1933...though as usual, the folks in the film (particularly the women) are coiffed and dressed just like women from 1948. The flashback is all to illustrate to the audience that saving your money in a safe deposit box or keeping it at home is a bad idea. I can only assume the US government was pressuring people to keep spending in order to avoid a recession following the boom years for US industries during WWII.

While the Depression started at the end of 1929, the worst years for unemployment were 1932-33. So, it's not surprising in this film that everyone is having severe money problems. So, when $1000 is placed in the safe at the local hotel, bad things will happen because it's not being put to good use. When Horace sees this money, he assume it's money that was owed to him...and like practically everyone in the film, he owes others and uses the money to pay them...and so on and so on. The problem is that it turns out the money ISN'T Horace's and he'll likely go to jail unless it's returned...and fast.

This is an amiable comedy and I liked all the supporting actors. My only complaint is that the message is carried WAY too far and the film lacks subtlety. Still, it's a decent film and a nice little time-passer.