This "It Happened One Night" on wheels suffers from the casting of the comparatively dull James Ellison opposite the hitting-sparks-on-all- cylinders Lucille Ball in her first number one leading star role at RKO. Ellison looks a bit like Joel McCrea. In fact, McCrea would actually have made the ideal leading man for this picture. He is not only so much more charismatic but has exactly the right screen personality that would have paired perfectly with Lucy's. On the other hand, Ellison is always outclassed. We know how the picture is sure to end almost right from the start. The script has no suspense. True, it could have been made a good deal more amusing if the writers had been game to tackle the plot in a more satiric fashion. The two lead characters needed to be far more personable and individual, but still satiric and even exotic. But for some reason, while Lucy Ball has the right go-for-it approach, Ellison and the rest of the cast, plus the writers and director Garson Kanin keep holding back and playing safe. Available on an excellent Warner Archive DVD.
Review of Next Time I Marry
