O Homem das Calamidades

There are probably very few people today who realize what a big star movie star Red Skelton was in his day. In the late '40s and early '50s he churned out a string of very popular comedies. He was probably as big as Bob Hope, who is much better remembered today, probably because of later TV appearences, including all those USO specials. (I've always thought that Skelton's and Hope's movie personas were very similar. At least the young Hope. They were hapless but well-meaning boobs who always somehow managed to get the pretty girl).

No point going into the plot, because the plots in Skelton's movies don't matter much. They're just something on which to hang the gags and comic routines. There's some very inventive physical comedy in this movie, culminating in the extended, wacky final car chase. There's the added attraction of two lovely actresses, Arlene Dahl and Ann Miller, as fetching eye candy. Arlene falling for Red may seem somehow inexplicable, but like I said, Red always gets the girl. Ann Miller is young, perky, and funny. (though no tap dancing).

I don't think that Red Skelton ever cared about being perceived a comic genius. (Even Hope showed more ambition and ego). He just wanted to make people laugh, and generally succeeded. This isn't one of his best efforts, but it still made me smile.