Park Avenue Logger

This film is available through Alpha Video. In many cases, and this is certainly one of them, their DVDs are of exceptionally poor quality prints--and this one looks like a copy of a copy of a copy of a videotape. It's ugly, that's for sure.

The basic story idea of "Park Avenue Lodger" is good. However, one HUGE part of the story never is resolved--and it's a shame because it's a really interesting twist.

The story begins with a wealthy father (Lloyd Ingraham) complaining to his friend that his son is a bit of a sissy. The young man (George O'Brien) is very cultured and well-educated, but the father doubts the guy has any ability to work a job that requires muscle and stamina. What the father does NOT know is that the son is quite the macho man--and is a masked professional wrestler!! However, since neither confides in the other, neither knows that they really have a lot in common. Oddly, after the father attempts to change the son by sending him west to work as a logger, there is no mention about the pro wrestling career!! I really wanted to hear more about this and it was clearly a dangling plot point.

Once out west, two things happen. First, the son falls in love with a woman whose family are direct competitors with his family. Second, there are a bunch of thieves working in the logging industry and they will do anything to stop the boss' son from investigating. But, the guy is quite savvy and soon learns the truth--at which point his father shows absolutely no faith in him and will not accept that he's being cheated. How does it all work out? See the film.

In addition to the dangling plot point, I must say that Ingraham plays one of the nastiest, least appreciative and surliest fathers I can recall having seen in a film. I really think they should have toned this down a bit. Overall, a mildly interesting film that simply should have been a lot better. It all seemed very rushed and would have loved it if the film had moved more logically and deliberately.