The Tenderfoot

Joe E. Brown stars as a cowboy duped into financing a Broadway show. Ginger Rogers is the city girl who tries to help him. How much you'll like this depends on how you feel about Joe E. Brown. His comedy is basically all rubberfacing and a silly voice. I'm not big on Brown and this did little to change my opinion of him. However, it's one of his less obnoxious movies. When he's playing straight instead of doing shtick, he's affable and pleasant to watch. I am a fan of Ginger Rogers and it's always good to see a movie of hers I haven't seen before. This is early Ginger but she's still the best part of the movie. It's a pretty forgettable film but if you're a fan of Brown's you will probably enjoy it a little more.

"Whoooooopie!" ... I caught this movie for the first time on TCM early this morning and found it somewhat entertaining. Not ROFLOL slap-stick, or vaudevillian in the class of the Three Stooges or even Laurel and Hardy but that which was in it for innocent amusement. What did somewhat crack me up was when he was informed that the only costumes they had were that of Shakespeare and nothing associated or fitting the Broadway play they were performing - I believe it was a western. Yet there were some moments to suggest that I was in 1932. For one, in the restaurant the menu contained Kosher items and the comment made about a "tribe," and on the Brown's hat band, swastikas with some other symbols were briefly shown. Not really sure what that was all about but it reminded me a bit of when the Three Stooges poked fun at the threat in Europe that was emerging at the time. Nevertheless it was a fun movie and to see a young Ginger Rogers was well worth it. I'm certainly glad to have experienced it and the script alone was worth commendation. It wasn't great but it was fair.

"The Tenderfoot" is from the days just before the Hollywood Production Code became strictly enforced in 1932. Primarily family fare, a few words and themes are slipped in that would become taboo within a few months and for decades to come. None of these should preclude a family audience today.

Examples include a cowboy, who upon arriving in NYC, spots a group of men in cowboy suits who turn out to be obviously gay chorus boys. Later in the film, he malaprops "ejaculation," instead of "salutations!" Yes, there's plenty of innuendo--much of it sophisticated and/or subtle, but nothing that isn't heard (ahem, recycled) on U.S. network primetime/family television today.

Ginger Rogers appears as Brown's feisty love interest, but don't expect her to sing, dance or wear ostrich feathers. Still, she's charming and more interesting here than in her Oscar-winning role in 1940's "Kitty Foyle."

Joe E. Brown, who is probably best remembered today for his turn as Osgood Fielding III in "Some Like It Hot," plays the cowboy broadly. Still, he's much more palatable than in other frequently seen performances (reference Flute in 1935's "A Midsummer Night's Dream).

In addition to the historical interest, the film is an enjoyable and well produced piece of fluff. The short 70-minute run time seems even shorter to me. Hope you enjoy it!

Texas cowboy Calvin Jones (Joe E. Brown) is fresh off the train. He is a fish out of water in NYC. He's looking to invest in a Broadway play. Crooked producer Joe Lehman (Lew Cody) is robbing him blind and he falls for Joe's secretary Ruth Weston (Ginger Rogers).

This is a pre-Code comedy. I like him reconnecting with his old horse. I like a lot of the first half. I see his character as a Crocodile Dundee. I don't like him being too dumb. I also don't see much chemistry between him and Ginger Rogers. It's generally fine as a screwball comedy. At least, he closes riding a horse in a car chase.

Joe E. Brown plays the main character, Calvin Jones. Jones is in New York City straight from the middle of no where in Texas. Now this is a severe problem, as Jones is very naive about big city ways. So, it's not at all surprising when some producers of a play without backing convince Jones to buy half the show. The problem is that the show is a bomb and Jones is just too ignorant to know it. He's also too ignorant to know that his co-producer, Mr. Lehman, is a crook and his secretary (Ginger Rogers) film-flammed him into investing in the cursed project.

While the idea for the film isn't bad, one thing is very bad--Brown's performance. Subtle he ain't. In fact, he walks about like he's a 6 year-old trying to PRETEND to be a cowboy and his dialog is pretty cheesy. While I've seen quite a few of Brown's other films, this one is among the very worst--all due to his awful character.

Now this isn't to say the film is all bad. It does have some nice moments--such as when Calvin tells a prospective backer the plot (the reactions are pretty funny) as well as the opening dance number (it's one of the strangest in history...complete with robots!). Overall, I'd say that the bad does outweigh the good just a bit.