Hi Diddle Diddle

Director: Andrew L. Stone
Year Released: 1943
Rating: 3.5

Little-known screwball comedy starts with a shady father (Adolphe Menjou, dapper as usual) coming to the aid of his son's mother-in-law (the delightfully clueless Billie Burke) who claims she was swindled out of money; meanwhile, his son (Dennis O'Keefe) and his new bride (Martha Scott) just can't seem to find time to consummate their marriage. It's loaded with various creative bits - like animated bookends (by Leon Schlesinger), running gags, meta-moments (double take!) and a steady slew of double entendres - to go along with its fevered pacing: it's the B-equivalent of a Preston Sturges picture. Menjou, in particular, is a joy: he wants the best for his son, but he also wants the best for himself ... a loveable scoundrel.