Pot o' Gold (1941)

Sadly Over-hyped

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

"Music Store" owner James Stewart (as James "Jimmy" Hamilton Haskell) loves his work, but his business is going broke. Wealthy uncle Charles Winninger (as Charlie "C.J." Haskell) wants Mr. Stewart to give up his faltering store and work at the more profitable "Haskell Health Foods" business. Also a radio show sponsor, Mr. Winninger dislikes Stewart's noisy music store and Horace Heidt's band playing regularly outside his factory. The musicians are supported by boardinghouse mom Mary Gordon. Her pretty daughter Paulette Goddard (as Molly McCorkle) gets involved with Stewart. "Pot o' Gold" fictionally tells how a real radio show came to give away a weekly $1,000 jackpot. Stewart once called it the worst of his films - it's a musical and he sings (neither unpleasantly nor memorably); also, he has little rapport with Ms. Goddard.**** Pot o' Gold (4/3/41) George Marshall ~ James Stewart, Paulette Goddard, Horace Heidt, Charles Winninger

If you are the sort that has a fetish for a particular era, as did I the swing era, you will recognize the musical fare in Pot 'O Gold as the most jumped up and comercialized representation of swing imaginable. It's highly unlikely that all of the actors actually knew how to play their instruments. The scene where a whole gene-pool of Irish suddenly whip out chromatic harmonicas is telling, if not excessively "cute." With a frozen happy-face throughout, Paulet Goddard sinks to her lowest as the lip-synching big-band diva. I happen to worship her, so I'll buy the excuse that she really needed the money. This is Hollywood at its anti-realism worst. I wanted to strangle those prodigy kids in the Haskell music shop as they ripped through their classical repertoire like nickelodians on crack. I guess that tags me for what I am--a grouch and a "Tone Snob!" Still, everyone is young and cute in this film The Irish stereotypes are endearing in their, uh, Irish way. The darkies keep to the background except for approximately 10 seconds of true talent where they are allowed to grin and shuffle a bit.

Jimmy Haskell(James Stewart)owns a small music store that is failing and when the shop is sold, his rich Uncle C.J.(Charles Winninger)urges Jimmy to come work for him. Instead of going to work in the food packing factory, Jimmy finds himself joining a neighborhood band. If only the band could play on the radio show the elder Haskell sponsors...well, you know the rest. Jimmy and his Uncle C.J. mend their relationship. Boy falls in love with pretty girl and the band get to play on nationwide radio. Clean, wholesome fun with music and slight comedy. Other cast members: the lovely Paulette Goddard, Mary Gordon, Frank Melton and Horace Heidt.

Jimmy Stewart is Jimmy Stewart, in this film as much as in any. The hoofers, musicians, dancers and others are very typical and very good.Because of our impressions and biases, we expect something very different in a Jimmy Stewart film. This one is way beyond 'Philadelphia Story', on a scale that runs from that to, say, 'Rear Window'.This, however, is a very lightweight musical, to be considered closer to the 'Follies' films and shorts like the one about Catalina Island than such heavyweights as 'Carousel', 'L'il Abner' or 'Showboat'.It actually reads more like a cartoon script than any coherent, literary film such as 'Golden Caddillac', 'Animal Crackers' or 'Bringing Up Baby'. Speaking of the last, it is a pity that JS and KH did not work together more.The pace is frenetic ala Marx Brothers, the dance and musical numbers done very well and the emphasis is on having the minimum story necessary to string together the music.There is a subtle but very special scene, near the end, when Paulette Goddard goes to Jimmy's place to rouse him out and get him to the studio for the climactic radio show. It is not a musical number though there is a great deal of physical comedy in the scene. What makes it special special part is, without rhythm or music, that it is very clear that Paulette Goddard is dancing. The blocking, direction and her own talent shine. This one scene is worth the price of admission.With a story in the best tradition of American Musical Tradition, more talent per actor than many better known and better thought-of films, this is a very enjoyable diversion. I was constantly impressed with the tight writing and talent. Did I mention that the folks are good?It ain't 'Grapes of Wrath' but 'Pot 'O Gold' is well worth the watching.