mark.waltz Ripping off the plot twist from that famous George M. Kaufman play, this sitcom like film is as inconsequential and unbelievable as comedies go. IRS employee Tony Randall shows up at Paul Douglas's farm, realizes that they have never paid taxes, and is manipulated into staying, all because Douglas and his wife (Una Merkel) believe that there's a possibility of romance between him and their daughter (Debbie Reynolds). Douglas, trying to explain their philosophy of trade, can't understand that Randall is intent on giving them a huge bill. This just gets sillier as it goes on, with Randall getting drunk, staying the night, and finding himself further involved in the life of this hayseed family.Even sprinkled with modern sensibilities of the late 1950's, thus is very mid '30s in mood and style. A split screen with his boss (Fred Clark) is missing the split, making it appear that they were right next to each other when the scene was filmed. While everybody is charming enough, the premise to set up romance and other conflicts is simply absurd. Ma and Pa Kettle were far more worldly than the more well off Douglas family. Randall, not your typical leading man, is full of pep, really going all out in a very funny drunk scene. This works simply for moments, and if if wasn't for the fantastic cast, gorgeous country settings and a few genuine laughs, I would rank this as 3/10.

MGrunwell All movies can do just a bit better, however - this movie is fun and heartwarming in many different ways. Too many times people watch movies now only to 'pick them apart' for errors. Unlike so many people, I watch movies for their entertainment value and suggest the viewer just sit back and enjoy the story and humor as it unfolds.Many recognizable performers are in this film. Tony Randall and Debbie Reynolds make a wonderful combination, shame they didn't make any other films together.This movie, in my opinion, never rated as high as it should. A nice, enjoyable film to share with the family.

dyaghoobian This is an American version of British novels that were later made into a Brit-com called Darling Buds of May (starring David Jason and Catherine Zeta-Jones). The TV series was set in late 1950s Kent. In the original there was no lack of cash. It was the free-floating cash that got up the nose of the Inland Revenue (like the IRS). Pop Larkin (names were mostly unchanged) was always buying and selling, paid cash for everything. It would be possible today - ebay, auction sellers, yard buyers and sellers alike are "under the radar". They weren't living cashless, just creditless. Drinking was actually played down in the American version. The most unbelievable part of the British series was the non-stop imbibing, with contests to come up with the most potent drinks, yet no one got drunk - except Charley, the revenuer.

moonspinner55 Labored comedy has I.R.S. agent Tony Randall investigating eccentric farm family in Maryland who have never paid their taxes; Debbie Reynolds is the tomboy farmer's daughter who puts the squeeze on the not-so-disinterested tax-man. Debbie certainly made her share of inferior theatrical sitcoms during this period--and this one's no better or worse than the rest. Picture begins brightly but flags at the halfway point, becoming frantic and witless. Randall isn't a bad match for Reynolds, but the vehicle itself defeats the chemistry. Based on the novel "The Darling Buds of May" by H.E. Bates, with a poor sound-mix causing all the actors to sound as if they're stuck in an echo chamber. ** from ****