William Bendix recreates the eponymous Chester A. Riley role that was featured in the successful radio show. Riley is hapless, clueless, full of pretense, always falling short of his own short-lived dreams.
In the film, the primary story revolves around the engagement of his daughter. A mistaken assumption is paired with a dishonest revelation to create what is actually a tragic circumstance, but we know this is a comedy, so the final reel unravels the falsehoods and reveals the happy truths.
Riley is a character you laugh at, but personally I feel rather sad for him. Perhaps he is a little too desperate and his life is so out of his control. Still, the story is meant to be light-hearted--a good-natured ribbing of a fool who always trips over his own intentions.
All production aspects of the film are average and the acting roles offer few opportunities to shine.