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Tragically underseen, this Preston Sturges comedy is all of 68 minutes long (including the credits) and is a freakin' laugh riot from start to finish. The story: Dick Powell's hapless Jimmy MacDonald dreams of getting rich quick by winning corporate-sponsored contests like 'count how many peanuts there are in the window display.' A perennial loser, he is stunned when he wins a slogan competition for a rival coffee company. Immediately, his boss (also a coffee magnate) promotes him, ashamed he hasn't been listening to his obviously great ideas, and Jimmy takes his best gal (Ellen Drew) on a shopping spree. Only it turns out that the telegram announcing Jimmy's win is a hoax. Imagine the mortification... and there's more to follow.
Filled with rat-a-tat, droll dialogue, this is Sturges' second feature film and his first comic masterpiece. Many more would follow, but those wanting to see how the maestro got started -- and anyone looking for a good time -- should definitely check out this slim piece of comedy gold.
