Where There's a Will

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Audience Member No one stutters and blusters and thinks more of himself than he ought to quite like Will Hay, an English comedian who opened for W. C. Fields, and shares something of the latter's uniquely brilliant comic delivery, and virtually none of his cynicism or misanthropy. This time, Hay is a down-on-his luck lawyer trying (and mostly failing) to pay the rent, to (literally) keep the lights on, to impress his daughter (who is under the mistaken impression that her father is a well-to-do attorney) while she's in town for Christmas, and (always) to find a way to sneak another drink. Of course, things get complicated when he finds himself inadvertently mixed up with a gang of American bank robbers who seem to have stepped out of a Damon Runyon story, and the whole thing culminates at a big Christmas party with Scotland Yard chasing everybody around and Hay dressed up as Santa Claus. What's marvelous about Hay's particular brand of comedy (he not only starred in the film, but also co-wrote the script, and even directed some of his other pictures, though frequent collaborator William Beaudine helms this one) is the beating heart at the core of all the apparent frivolity--when it looks like Hay will finally be revealed to his daughter as the fraud he is, there's real heartbreak beneath the humor. And Hay and Beaudine surround his bumbling would-be lawyer with a whole host of vibrant players, interesting faces, terrific voices, and scene stealers, creating a sort of Wodehousian wonderland in which to set their screwball story. It's a shame that Hay remains largely forgotten today, especially when a number of his films (this one included) seem to be in the public domain and are now so easily available from sites like Internet Archive. There are funnier comedies than "Where There's a Will," but there are few so disarmingly warm and sweet and charming. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Like most Hay films, it's a lot of fun--I'll have a double double then!! Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Where There's a Will

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