A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob (1941)

Very disappointing...

Absolutely the worst movie.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

When working class secretary Lucille Ball encounters wealthy Edmund O'Brien at the opera, sparks fly, and so does a purse. Ball's family have somehow ended up with O'Brien's usual opera box tickets and both parties create a huge disturbance that ends with Ball's purse flying out of her hands and onto O'Brien's head when he's (heaven forbid!) seated in the orchestra. The next thing Ball knows, she's been recruited to become O'Brien's secretary and initial hatred turns into an unlikely friendship. O'Brien has an obnoxious socialite fiancée (Marguerite Chapman) who keeps on walking in on Ball and O'Brien at awkward times and creates all sorts of misunderstandings. Ball is engaged to a sailor (George Murphy) who befriends O'Brien and takes him under his wing. O'Brien finds he likes Ball's rowdy family more than his social circle, and Ball finds that while she adores Murphy, her feelings for O'Brien cannot be denied.There are some really funny moments in this film, including an incident with a naval pal of Murphy's who literally can grow four inches at will simply by stretching his neck, back and leg muscles (and apparently shrink back to his normal height). This creates a scene in front of sniffy Franklin Pangborn's pet supply store and brings on typical comic havoc. O'Brien, later a dependable tough guy, is different here than anything he did later on, so that makes for an interesting twist. However, great comic moments don't make a great film, and this ultimately is missing the flour that makes the cake rise. None of Ball's later wackiness is apparent in this one. I must also point out that eccentrically obnoxious isn't always amusing to watch, and that describes Ball's family here to the tea.

HAROLD LLOYD produced this alleged comedy. Whatever he did right in the Silent Era and in his fine comedies of the 1930s' he must of forgotten in this production. This film telegraph's its entire plot within the first fifth-teen (15) minutes. It is as predictable as sand running through a 'Egg-Timer' and the 'timer' is more interesting.A GIRL (Lucille Ball), A GUY (Edmond O'Brien) AND A GOB (George Murphy) form the 'love triangle'. Each wanting to do what they think is in each others best interests. All are wrong and in the end, who you thought should be together, end up together. Like we did not know that from the get go! The supporting cast also just punches their clock and collects their checks. No doubt being grateful for a short shoot! Realizing how 'unfunny' this film really is.For some reason RKO kept featuring Mr. O'Brien in a series of mediocre comedies. Fortunetly after WWII he found his true niche as a character actor. Finally rewarded with the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA (1954). He continued his professionalism too the end of his career. Like-wise Mr. Murphy after success, mostly at M.G.M. also did alright, in the U.S. Senate. Ms. Ball, never a real front rank Star in Cinema, found the accomplishment and $$$ she craved in the new medium of Television. Which was more forgiving of her rather ordinary looks and slap-stick style of humor. In the 1950s' with limited competition and few channels to select from, you could be great or just the lessor of other evils too be popular.

Lucille Ball was much more restrained in this 1941 comedy with Edmond O'Brien and George Murphy.O'Brien appears so young and dashing in this film. He plays an upper class businessman who meets and finds love with secretary Ball. Murphy plays her sailor boyfriend. To me, the biggest question in the film was who would Murphy wind up with?The comedy here is tedious. O'Brien has a snobbish girlfriend with a high society mother to the bargain.Ball comes from a real common family where the brother finds opera tickets that belong to O'Brien. By the next scene, Ball is going to apply for a job where O'Brien is the owner. How coincidental can we get?

I wanted to see this film because my grandfather acted in it. His name is James Spencer. His south sea island scenes were cut out in the final release of this film. I still found this film to be a great treat and a lot of fun. It was a great example of the screw-ball comedies of the time before WW2. This should be seen on cable tv. Great chemistry between all the actors here.