At the Lurie Spring Hotel, people come and go, but nothing ever happens. Sounds familiar? This movie came out four months after MGM's GRAND HOTEL and was Paramount's response to it. Originally it clocked in at an less-than-grand 67 minutes. I saw a 52-minute version and, while the names may sparkle in recollection, they were not quite so distinguished then. Carole Lombard and Jack Oakie were the two top-billed stars, and further down were ... well, it doesn't matter too much. Because the multi-plotted movie is too brief for more than vignettes. Everyone is waiting for the big race, the broke ex-wife and the embezzler who need the money; the horse owner who has everything riding on this race, and the jockey whom he fired for redemption.
And so forth. It's directed by Erle C. Kenton, one of many directors to emerge from Mack Sennett's studio. It's a pleasant enough effort, but it definitely was not an A picture by the time it hit the screen. Even so, it's a fine example of the professional polish that even the cheapest of Paramount's programmers could achieve.
And so forth. It's directed by Erle C. Kenton, one of many directors to emerge from Mack Sennett's studio. It's a pleasant enough effort, but it definitely was not an A picture by the time it hit the screen. Even so, it's a fine example of the professional polish that even the cheapest of Paramount's programmers could achieve.