Man About Town

This film was a big nostalgia trip for me, having listened to Jack Benny's radio program in the late 30's and also having watched his program later when it transferred to television. His films were often silly, but knowing his personality and those of the rest of the radio cast made them enjoyable. This film fits that mold, as he brought with him Eddie Anderson and Phil Harris, two of the show's regulars. Benny and Anderson had great rapport that transferred to the screen beautifully. Anderson's character on the show and in this film was as Benny's wise-cracking valet, Rochester, and the name was so well-known that he's billed here in the opening credits simply as "Rochester," although the end credits lists him as Eddie Anderson. I was amazed at his versatility when he does two jazzed up dances in the film, which alone makes the film worth watching. The plot has Benny as an actor and producer in London, trying to make time with his star, Dorothy Lamour, by wooing Lady Binnie Barnes to get Lamour jealous, while Barnes uses Benny to get her husband, Edward Arnold, jealous and more attentive. That scheme was suggested by French friend Isabel Jeans, who does the same thing, since her husband, Monty Woolley, is likewise inattentive. The funniest sequence of the movie has Arnold and Woolley each seeing Benny kiss the other man's wife and keeping mum about it. But when the truth comes out, both are out to kill Benny.

The movie is sprinkled with musical numbers throughout, with Lamour, Harris and Betty Grable providing nice vocals for relatively forgettable songs, The Pina Troupe doing some acrobatics and the Merriel Abbott Dancers dancing, all to the music of Matty Malneck's orchestra. When you hear Benny butcher the song "Love in Bloom" on his violin, you should know that it was a running gag on his show to appreciate the humor. Isabel Jeans and Eddie Anderson are both standouts, with the rest of the supporting cast in good form. This is not a great movie, but it is certainly an enjoyable one.

I found this movie enjoyable, with great performances from some great people. There is no pretense of high art, or even an attempt at it; but mostly, I believe, intended as a vehicle for the great radio star Jack Benny. Typical late-Depression fare: and very important

So don't expect too much, and you'll be pleased.

This is a pretty weak effort from Benny and the team. Jack and Rochester try but the material is so unfunny that they don't get very far. Rochester's two dance numbers are the highlights - and Benny's attempt at being a member of an acrobatic troupe is very funny. The rest is pretty dull with some bad casting (Edward Arnold as an English Lord?) and really bad musical numbers. Benny's show would never have made it to Hoboken, let alone London - the songs are just awful. No wonder there are only about twenty in the audience - I guess they were saving on extras. Dorothy Lamour looks bored, but Betty Grable provides a bit of life in a small but memorable role. Also good is E.E. Clive as a butler. And what a fizzer of an ending - it doesn't even make sense.

This is among the worst films ever made by Paramount. It's supposed to be a comedy/musical. But there are no laughs (not even a smile), and the music and the musical numbers are fourth rate. Viewers old enough to have enjoyed the Jack Benny shows on radio and television will find this 1939 movie a great disappointment.

There seems to have been a severe lack of intelligence throughout. The script is inept, Rochester is featured far beyond his talents, Dorothy Lamour and Betty Grable are wasted, and Edward Arnold and Monty Woolley were given embarrassing parts. The racial jabs at Rochester are extraordinarily offensive.

So, The Horn Blows at Midnight was not Jack Benny's worst film.

without getting into all the downer reviews, I watched this movie and delighted in the characters...Jack Benney was funny, Phil Harris was great, Dottie Lamour was THE girl of 1939, she is alluring, exotic, classy, and sings like an angel. Betty Grable is gorgeous and Edward Arnold and Monty Wooley do superb supporting comedy characters. The show becomes very memorable when they show the stage acts. The singing is terrific and Eddie Anderson (Rochester) is the true highlight. He is on of the greatest hoofers I have ever seen, he is graceful and modern. The chorus lines were full of great routines and beauty. I bought the movie and I'd buy it again. I could easily give it a 10 but it didn't have enough Lamour.