A GIRL IN EVERY PORT

US, 1951, 87 minutes, Black and white.
Groucho Marx, William Bendix, Marie Wilson, Don Defore,
Gene Lockhart.
Directed by Chester Erskine.

A Girl In Every Port is an amusing but slight comedy featuring Groucho Marx, supported by William Bendix and Marie Wilson. Groucho Marx is in his element although it is evident that he is getting older in comparison with the Marx Bros comedies of the '30s. William Bendix is very good at impersonating the amiable dumb ox. Marie Wilson (My Friend Irma) has a pleasant style in scatty comedy. Gene Lockhart enjoys himself as a shady character.

The film is a product of the '50s - focus on the Navy, saboteurs, gangsters, racing. There are some good one-liners for Groucho Marx as well as the other stars. However, it is an enjoyable minor comedy.

1. Enjoyable American comedy? Star vehicle? The styles of the stars?

2. Small budget, black and white photography, the Navy, gangsters, racetracks, big business?

3. The title and the focus?

4. Benny and Donovan in the Navy, partners, brains and brawn, their difficulties, the filing cabinet full of complaints, Donovan and his inheritance, Benny's smart talking, the buying of the horse, the discovery of the twins, the gangsters, the shady character, the jockey, Pearl? Janie? The intricacies of the plans, trying to sell back the horse, the impersonations for the businessman, clashes with Millicent? Her threats? The gangsters' threats? Kidnapping the horse, imprisoning the saboteurs? Riding the horses in the race? The happy ending and the decoration? The styles of comedy, wisecracks, visual gags?

5. Janie and her work at the diner, the horses, attracted towards Ted, her encounters with Benny and Donovan? Ingenuous? Happy ending?

6. Ted and his giving up his horses, the pressure by Millicent, her spy? His wanting to buy the horses? Caught and the racetrack? In love with Janie?

7. The Navy, the con-tricks, the Navy rescuing Benny and Donovan? The captain and his dilemmas? Millicent and her pressure?

8. Enjoyable farce? Popular comedy, American style?