So You're Taking in a Roomer

So You're Taking in a Roomer (1954)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

The McDoakes family are falling behind on all their bills so Alice suggests that they rent out their spare room. Joe finally agrees but after a few clients don't work he finally agrees to rent the room to his neighbor Marvin who brings Joe in on his "potato" business, which turns out to be a gambling house. Of course McDoakes is too dumb to figure this out and soon gangsters are paying him a visit. This entry in the series isn't going to go down as one of the best but there are enough mild laughs to make it worth sitting through. The best moment happens early on when Joe rents the room to a hot blonde (Joi Lansing) who of course ends up getting kicked out by Alice due to Joe flirting with her. Once again George O'Hanlon and Rodney Bell have great chemistry as Joe and Marvin. The two really know how to play off one another and it's this chemistry that really makes the film worth sitting through.

Alice nags joe to take in a boarder --that or her mom! brings in sexy lady---alice nixes that she brings in handsome man--joe nixes that marvin making book

When the story begins, Alice is nagging Joe to take in a border so they can make some extra money. When Joe refuses, Alice threatens to have her mother come and live in the spare room instead! So, Joe and his wife each try to bring in a border...and both go for a sexy member of the opposite sex. In desperation, Joe allows Marvin to move in and run his business out of the spare room. Marvin tells Joe he's selling potatoes....but it's obvious to anyone with more than half a brain that Marvin is a bookie. Of course, Joe is completely oblivious! What's next?

I really think Joe is even dumber than usual in this one. But is it funny? Not nearly as much as the average entry into this long-running series. Just not enough laughs for me.

George O'Hanlon and Jane Frazee have had the electricity and the telephone cut off. So they decide to rent out their spare room. After a couple of failed experiments (ahem!), they rent it to Rodney Bell, who pays by taking O'Hanlon into the produce. At least that's what he tells O'Hanlon. But when O'Hanlon thinks he's taking orders for potatoes, he's actually taking bets on horse racing.

Back in the day, taking bets away from the race tracks was illegal and very profitable for organized crime. InNew York State, they decided to make it legal, but only if you bet through the state bookie. Yes, New York State was the only bookie who lost money!