lugonian
POT O'GOLD (United Artists, 1941), directed by George Marshall, is not exactly a luck of the Irish fantasy about a leprechaun and his pot of gold, but a forgotten yet unsuccessful musical with title derived from a popular radio program. POT O'GOLD also has the distinction of being both presented and produced for the only time by James Roosevelt, older son of the then current United States president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Independently made, it also has the distinction of starring not two newcomers on the rise but two major actors on loan-out assignment from their home base studios, James Stewart (from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) and Paulette Goddard (from Paramount). Other than being the movie debut of band-leader, Horace Heidt, it has little to offer except for the presence of recent Academy Award winner, James Stewart, in what he claimed to be his worst movie. Maybe not his very worst, except only when watching bad reproductive copies on video or DVD, but one of his lesser contributions with fine actors performing to second-rate script with third-rate songs to boot.The story revolves around James Hamilton Haskell (James Stewart), a harmonica player who has inherited his late father's music store. Because business is failing, his rich uncle, Charles J. Haskell (Charles Winninger), sponsor of the weekly radio program, "Haskell's Happiness Hour," offers Jimmy the opportunity of going into business with him. As much as Jimmy loves music, his uncle detests it, especially when his establishment happens to be across the alley of Mrs. McCorkle's (Mary Gordon) boardinghouse on 419 63rd Street where Horace Heidt and his band play their music on the rooftop. As Jimmy arrives to meet with his uncle, he encounters Mrs. McCorkle's daughter, Molly (Paulette Goddard), singer of the band, who, during a disruption between the McCorkles and the Haskills, unwittingly throws a tomato at his uncle's face, thus, becoming a hero to the McCorkles and tenants of the building. As Jimmy tries to hide his identity from Molly and her friends, he attempts on helping the music makers by having them appear on his uncle's radio program without his knowledge.Other members of the cast include: Frank Melton (Jasper); Dick Hogan (Willie McCorkle); Jed Prouty (J.K. Louderman); James Burke (Officer Grady); and Charles Arnt (Parks, the Butler). Notable performance goes to Mary Gordon in another one of many stereotypical strong-willed Irish mother/landlady; Charles Winninger playing a sort of role he's done hundreds of times before, with the only exception of not being an entertainer who feels vaudeville will be making a comeback; and future TV personality, Art Carney Ed Norton of "The Honeymooners") briefly playing an announcer during the radio giveaway segment.Though Stewart is not actually associated with musicals, interestingly POT O'GOLD happens to be his fourth, and second for which he sings a song or two. The motion picture soundtrack, with tunes by unfamiliar composers as Lou Forbes, Henry Sucher, Dave Franklin, Mark David and Vee Lawnhurst, is as follows "Hi Cy," "Pete, the Piper Man" (sung by Paulette Goddard); "By the Moonlight," "When Johnny Toots His Horn" (sung by James Stewart); "Hail, McCorkle," "A Knife, a Fork and a Spoon," "My Irish Stew," "Oh, Boarder House," "Do You Believe in Fairy Tales?" (sung by band members, later sung by James Stewart during dream sequence); and "The Caballero from Broadway." Of the songs, "The Cavallero from Broadway" gets the production number treatment, choreographed by Larry Ceballos. A lively tune and well staged, it's something best appreciated from the standpoint of the story for television as opposed to listening radio audience who couldn't very well see what they are hearing, otherwise the score is a far cry from being Irving Berlin, Cole Porter or a George Gershwin. I doubt is any one of these composers would ever consider such title songs as "A Knife, A Fork and a Spoon" and make a success of it.While POT O'GOLD reportedly began its broadcasting on television during its earliest years before disappearing by the mid 1950s, it wasn't until the advent of cable television and home video did POT O GOLD, having become a public domain movie title, began to find a new audience by the early 1980s, especially on public television. In later years, it's turned up on many cable channels, notably in recent years on Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: April 14, 2007).POT O GOLD may not win any jackpot as a sort-after movie musical classic, but a curiosity for those interested in the careers of its major leading players, especially that of Jimmy Stewart. (***)
blanche-2
Any movie star, even the greatest, under contract to a studio had his or her share of duds. But this is one I have trouble understanding. How did James Stewart, an actor who probably is in the top 10 of all-time great stars, land in this film? Especially after just winning the Oscar."Pot o' Gold" appears to have been an independent production by one James Roosevelt, FDR's son, and it was distributed through United Artists. It's about a young man, James Hamilton Haskel, who runs his dad's music store. The store isn't doing well, and his Uncle Charley (Charles Winninger) wants him to be part of his big health food business. James accepts for financial reasons. Uncle Charley is going crazy with the swing music being played next to his factory by the McCorkle family and Horace Heidt's band. Ma McCorkle and Uncle Charley hate one another. Without knowing that he's related to Uncle Charlie, the daughter, Molly (Paulette Goddard) falls for James. This leads to all sorts of complications, culminating on a radio show, the Haskel Happiness Hour.This is a mid-level musical at best, with Jimmy doing some of his own singing, though he's also dubbed, and Paulette Goddard, who came close to being Scarlett O'Hara, is dubbed all the way through. The band music is very good."Pot o' Gold" has a low-budget look to it, and supposedly James Stewart hated this film. I can't blame him. I just don't know how or why he and Goddard became mixed up in it.
radioflyer-1
If you are the sort that has a fetish for a particular era, as did I the swing era, you will recognize the musical fare in Pot 'O Gold as the most jumped up and comercialized representation of swing imaginable. It's highly unlikely that all of the actors actually knew how to play their instruments. The scene where a whole gene-pool of Irish suddenly whip out chromatic harmonicas is telling, if not excessively "cute." With a frozen happy-face throughout, Paulet Goddard sinks to her lowest as the lip-synching big-band diva. I happen to worship her, so I'll buy the excuse that she really needed the money. This is Hollywood at its anti-realism worst. I wanted to strangle those prodigy kids in the Haskell music shop as they ripped through their classical repertoire like nickelodians on crack. I guess that tags me for what I am--a grouch and a "Tone Snob!" Still, everyone is young and cute in this film The Irish stereotypes are endearing in their, uh, Irish way. The darkies keep to the background except for approximately 10 seconds of true talent where they are allowed to grin and shuffle a bit.
Michael O'Keefe
Jimmy Haskell(James Stewart)owns a small music store that is failing and when the shop is sold, his rich Uncle C.J.(Charles Winninger)urges Jimmy to come work for him. Instead of going to work in the food packing factory, Jimmy finds himself joining a neighborhood band. If only the band could play on the radio show the elder Haskell sponsors...well, you know the rest. Jimmy and his Uncle C.J. mend their relationship. Boy falls in love with pretty girl and the band get to play on nationwide radio. Clean, wholesome fun with music and slight comedy. Other cast members: the lovely Paulette Goddard, Mary Gordon, Frank Melton and Horace Heidt.
