The movies are at their best when they set out to do nothing more than make people laugh. In “Six of a Kind,” which is now playing at the Paramount, amusement was the keynote and Paramount has produced a picture that will make an audience not only snicker but laugh out good and loud. With W. C. Fields, Mary Boland, Charles Ruggles, Gracie Allen, George Burns and Alison Skipworth handling the main roles the result is a film that will bring a smile to the face of a confirmed dyspeptic.
“Six of a Kind” is a movie in the “mad” tradition. Its humor is elementary but telling. Everyone in the cast is given a good deal of latitude and each has taken advantage of the possibilities. There is a plot and even a little melodrama. Mr. and Mrs. Whinney (Ruggles and Boland) undertake a trans-continental auto trip. They advertise for a couple to share expenses. Who answers but Gracie Allen, George Burns and Gracie’s very large dog. Of course Gracie contributes the confusion and manages to turn what started out to be a pleasure trip into a series of tortures for the Whinney’s Things really begin to happen when the two couples, after being held up and robbed, land at a small country hotel. Being without funds Mr. Whinney who works in a bank, wires his bank for money. It seems that before he left on his trip Mr. Whinney was the unknown recipient of $50,000 which was placed in his baggage by a dishonest teller. This complication brings the picture to a climax and before “Finis” is flashed on the screen all is right with the world of the Whinneys.
That old veteran of the stage, W. C. Fields, playing the part of the dipsomaniac sheriff walks off with the comedy honors. Fortified by a pint of whiskey, his attempt to play a game of pool is a high spot of humor. Burns and Allen, although no great shakes as actors, manage to be consistently amusing. The dialogue is bright and the horseplay a trifie risque but never really distasteful.
On the stage of the Paramount, Jack Haley and Benny Rubin are their vulgar but amusing selves. In addition, the great Rubinoff leads the orchestra with his meaningless but violent movements. The Soviet dancers perform and Lillian Roth entertains. “The Poet Prince” of radio reknown, completes the program.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
