Here We Go Again

Strictly designed as a vehicle for NBC to promote its radio stars, Fibber McGee and Molly (Jim and Marian Jordan) and Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. Directed by prolific craftsman Allan Dwan, the "story" was probably rejected by The Three Stooges as being too unbelievable. Still, it is a delight to see the Jordans and Bergen in the flesh, especially as they lost out on TV careers. Also fun: A baby-faced Bill Thompson before he was drafted into the Navy and Gale Gordon before he lost his hair screaming at Lucille Ball. Found treasure: I had never heard of the beautiful Ginny Simms, who apparently had quite a career in the 40s as a singer. There are oddities such as long-shots of Mortimer and Charlie played by children. An unnecessary and racist side-trip to an "Indian village" mars the product as well, but it accurately reflects pre-Dr. King American mores. A must-see for OTR fans.

At my age (er, low 80s) this movie is particularly meaningful, reminding us of the fun we had btv (before television) as our imaginations and spirit of fun were fed with the likes of the stars of this movie, all radio folk (all NBC).

I was 14 when I hied my tail to the 43rd Street Theater, a small movie house in my neighborhood that specialized in 'B' fare. I loved it.

"Here We Go Again" was pure (in more ways than one) fun as it brought our radio favorites to the screen.

The musical portions were most enjoyable and the characters were a delight.

Fibber and Molly were lovable and fun, Bergen and company were delightful, as was Hal Peary as Gildy (later replace by Willard Waterman (?) who looked and sounded like Peary. The lesser known characters, such as Mabel Randolph as uppity Mrs. Uppington - all of them, were wonderful.

Musically, Ginny Simms was one of the best singers of the '40s, and Ray Noble and his band were enjoyable (not enough of them). On Bergen's radio show the Brit was the butt of McCarthyism. (Charlie not Joe, although both were dummies).

I would have loved to hear their between scenes conversations.

One reviewer, psewizzrp-1, or something like that, reviewed this movie as if it was a Hitchcock thriller in need of analyzing.

He needs analyzing. He spelled 'tires' - 'tyres' -- 'whining' came out as 'whinging' (???}. And story came out as 'storey'.

If he were to review a movie about cats, he would probably refer to them as kats.

Before your next negative criticism, bub, bring your second grade spelling book with you.

Anyway, most of the critics enjoyed this fluffy movie. For me, it was a delightful trip down memory lane.

I agree that it brings back to memory a time when people were proud of their country. We could all take lessons from a time in our history when it wasn't "all about me". I hate to be preachy so I'll talk about the movie. There wasn't much storyline, but if you like their old time radio show you will love this flick. The musical numbers are great & so are the characters. I hope you will watch it & enjoy it as much as My wife & I (& kids) did. It helped to introduce my kids to OTR. They already liked Abbott & Costello movies (they didn't know about their OTR shows), but really started to enjoy Fibber McGee & Molly as a result of this movie. It put a face to the voices of Gildy & Wimple (who they already knew as the voice of Droopy). It's not often you can be so entertained by a "history lesson" is it?

What a delightful surprise—the radio characters are just as funny on the screen as off. Middle-age couples have seldom starred in Hollywood features, but the Jordan's make engaging anchors of their small town Fibber McGee and Molly. I love the barbs McGee trades with the rotund Gildersleeve (Peary), carry-overs from the radio show. Then there's the ethically challenged Cadwallader (Gordon) as McGee's rival. Will he manage to come between radio's best-known married couple. The barbs are amusing without being mean-spirited. And, of course, there's the wooden little gentleman Charlie McCarthy trading quips with the best of them, or should I say Bergen trading quips. Sometimes it's hard to tell. Even the intellectually challenged Mortimer Snerd makes the most of his face time.

What really makes this comedic mix work is Allan Dwan's expert staging and direction. That cliff-hanging climax really winds things up with a bang. Too bad Dwan is almost forgotten. His Up in Mabel's Room (1944) and Getting Gertie's Garter (1945) remain two of the funniest bedroom farces of that period. Note here how he works a bevy of shapely girls into the visuals, adding eye appeal to the middle-age stars, plus of course the sparkling Ginny Simms. Oh sure, much of the humor comes from a gentler time when small town America was still the norm. Yet, I defy even today's young sophisticates not to crack more than a few smiles at the nonsensical goings-on of this delightful little programmer.

The first movie with Fibber McGee & Molly, Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy, and The Great Gildersleeve was "Look Who's Laughing". It was a cute little outing set in the FM & M hometown of Wistful Vista. This one is one too many. The plot is a little too contrived and the scenes uninspired, even by the relaxed standards of a cheap movie inspired by a radio sitcom.

The early scene as Fibber McGee and Molly try to enjoy a second honeymoon at a shabby lakeside resort and the scenes as Bergen & McCarthy try to camp out in the country are good. Other than that, the rest is "strictly from hunger" as the saying used to go. It's a brisk tale about how the McGees want to take the rest of their second honeymoon at a nicer resort than they can afford, so they run up a bill they can't pay. Then Molly's ex-boyfriend offers a way out: help him sell an investment in a synthetic gasoline concoction to Edgar Bergen.

Above all, the pacing of the film is way too harsh. Beyond that, the musical sequences are lame and the closing chase is perfunctory. This is clearly a cheap cash-in sequel.

That said, some will enjoy it. It's wholesome entertainment and will be well-received by most of those who are into the original radio characters. But those who like "Look Who's Laughing" will probably find this to be a weak follow-up.