dougdoepke Uneven comedy that benefits from Jack Carson's mugging skills but that's about all. The plot's darn near incomprehensible in its three main threads. The comedic thread where Carson and Wyman take on servant's duties they're totally unprepared for is promising. The second thread about his detective work is okay. But the third, about supposedly pseudo-Nazis is a gesture to the time and very poorly managed. Overall, the comedy's left mainly to Carson and not the movie itself. Then too, director Godfrey doesn't seem very engaged, as though the script and Carson should be enough. Check out director Alan Dwan's thematically similar Getting Gertie's Garter (1945) for an edifying contrast. Nonetheless, there are some amusing bits— the bed bouncing test that's also innuendo, Carson and Wyman preparing the world's worst fancy meal, and Carson showering in the girl's quarters where towels magically appear. Too bad Carson's largely forgotten. He was a fine all around actor, as adept at drama as he was at comedy. The movie, however, is far from his best.

MartinHafer Walter (Alan Hale) and Vivian are goofy rich folks who cannot keep servants. When Walter decides to try to pick servants himself, things get goofy. After meeting Detective Jerry Curtis (Jack Carson) while in jail together, Walter decides Jerry would be the perfect servant along with his 'wife' (Jane Wyman...and they don't realize she is only Jerry's girlfriend). So, in an insane plot twist, he hires the pair on the pretense that he wants them to protect him at the estate because someone wants to do him harm! There is no crime...so Walter hires some actors to pretend to be house guests and then has Walter investigate while posing as hired help. Does any of this make sense? Nope....not at all. Nor does it make sense that some of the 'actors' might just be Nazi spies!!Overall, this is a better than average mystery film because it offers so many novel plot elements. It also has some nice laughs and is a very nice time-passer.

JohnHowardReid A very amusing comedy, directed with an occasional flourish by Peter Godfrey (e.g. Jack Carson's frantic chase after Jane Wyman through the sidewalk crowds), and cleverly photographed by Robert Burks. Two of my favorite people, namely Ricardo Cortez and Tala Birell, have only minor roles, alas, but Jack Carson is in his element as a would-be detective and there's a most unusual interpretation by Robert Shayne of Carson's Ralph Bellamy-style boss! Jane Wyman makes an effective stooge. Her cooking scene is very neatly timed. In fact, the whole episode with the dinner is really hilarious, each gag being neatly topped by another, and thus building to a really rib-tickling finale. Alan Hale makes an excellent foil, while Irene Manning and George Tobias provide many chuckles with their well-timed comedy support. True, the movie is not all clear sailing. There are a couple of slow patches – chiefly two or three dialogue exchanges between Carson and Wyman which sharper film editing should have trimmed away. (Clarence Kolster must have been asleep at his bench). Nevertheless, the pace generally is brisk and seeing the movie on TV does not have the same ambiance as viewing it in a theatre. The situations are lively and amusing, while production values might certainly be described as lavish. In fact, photography, sets, costumes and music scoring could all justly be labeled "top-drawer".

Bob F. Good comedians like Jack Carson, Jane Wyman and Alan Hale make this little film funny for those who don't demand high art. Would-be detective Carson, and girlfriend, Wyman take on jobs as domestics to a wealthy businessman (Hale). The fact that it's World War II, and servants are supposedly hard to get, is the meat of the story line. Wyman can't begin to cook a decent meal,and Carson is worthless as a man servant. Despite this, the desperate Hale won't fire them -- lousy help is better than no help. Eventually, bumbling detective Carson, finds out that Nazi spies are house guests, and despite almost getting Hale and Wyman killed, captures them. This film is funny, and that's enough for me.