Stuart Erwin has a gift for adding figures in his head. He is happily employed at the local bank, working as a human adding machine and daydreaming about his cows.
Erwin's trouble starts when he is talked into joining up with a traveling carnival managed by fast-talking Robert Armstrong, who envisions putting Erwin's mental math skills on display in his show.
Betty Furness is Armstrong's girlfriend and partner in the carnival business; Edmund Gwenn is Furness's devoted but often-tipsy father. This shady trio set out to manage Erwin's career.
Rather quickly, Erwin shows a talent for the game of bridge and gets into a match with bridge master E. E. Clive; small time gambler Edward Brophy thinks he sees a good thing and tries to sign on as Erwin's manager; and bigger time gambler Dewey Robinson attempts to take over Erwin's "contract." Meanwhile, Furness finds herself developing a soft spot for Erwin's guileless sincerity.
Eventually, of course, Erwin is being pulled in too many directions and just wishes he were back with his cows.
It's a good cast of character actors who are fun to watch even though the plot and dialog are never too surprising, despite the whimsical premise. Enjoyable enough but it's all over before we really get too interested.
Erwin's trouble starts when he is talked into joining up with a traveling carnival managed by fast-talking Robert Armstrong, who envisions putting Erwin's mental math skills on display in his show.
Betty Furness is Armstrong's girlfriend and partner in the carnival business; Edmund Gwenn is Furness's devoted but often-tipsy father. This shady trio set out to manage Erwin's career.
Rather quickly, Erwin shows a talent for the game of bridge and gets into a match with bridge master E. E. Clive; small time gambler Edward Brophy thinks he sees a good thing and tries to sign on as Erwin's manager; and bigger time gambler Dewey Robinson attempts to take over Erwin's "contract." Meanwhile, Furness finds herself developing a soft spot for Erwin's guileless sincerity.
Eventually, of course, Erwin is being pulled in too many directions and just wishes he were back with his cows.
It's a good cast of character actors who are fun to watch even though the plot and dialog are never too surprising, despite the whimsical premise. Enjoyable enough but it's all over before we really get too interested.