POWDER TOWN
US, 1942, 79 minutes, Black and white.
Edmond O’ Brien, Victor Mc Laglan, June Havoc, Eddie Foy Jr.
Directed by Rowland V. Lee.
Powder Town is an offbeat farcical comedy that served as propaganda in 1942. It is the story of an absent-minded scientist, played by Edmond O’ Brien in an unusual role for him. but he has all the formulas in his head and is headhunted from his university by a company interested in making munitions. He writes notes, in rather kindergarten-like hieroglyphics.
He boards in a house full of girls who work at a local casino. They are after him for his charm and, eventually, the money that he wins while having a drink and having a lucky streak at the casino. He is also pursued by agents who are after his formula.
Victor Mc Laglan is there as usual as a boisterous bodyguard who can knock out everyone in the bar. June Havoc is one of the girls who is on the scientist’s side even when offered money to steal his formula. The leading lady is Dorothy Lovett, also employed by the spies but doing everything to help the scientist. Eddie Foy’s comedy is a bit corny and dated.
The film was directed by Rowland V. Lee, better known for serious films like The Count of Monte Cristo and Tower of London. Perhaps comedy was not his forte.
1. Interest because of its release at America’s entering into World War II? Comedy? Propaganda?
2. Powder Town, industrial development, munitions, the factories, the work staff? Research and experiments?
3. Penji and his personality, in the laboratory, not wanting intrusions, the experiments with the janitor, the head of the department interviewing him, the explosions? His being headhunted for the munitions factory? His agreeing to go? Writing his formula on walls, keeping the details in his head? His being employed? His experiments at the company, having Jeems as his bodyguard, the accident with the water and his falling down the stairs? Meeting Jeems again, being shown around, his experiments? Going back to the boarding house, the encounter with Sally Dean and the accident, buying her the dress, her refusal? Seeing the girls dancing, his friendship with them?
4. The boarding house, the old Ladey managing, her kindness, the girls dancing, working at the casino? Following Penji? The attraction? His going to the casino, lucky streak, thebig wins? Dolly and her particular interest? Preserving the cash?
5. Jeems, tough, his work at the factory, his sidekick and the humour and repetitions? The initial humiliation? Friendly with Penji? The attraction to Dolly, her treatment of him? The factory, pleading with the boss for his sidekick’s job? At the bar, the fight, single-handed victory? The spies, being tied up, keeping his sidekick at the door?
6. The spies, in the companies, wanting formulas, the thugs? The man in the office, link with the owner of the bar? Treatment of Penji? Making him drunk? His belt? Not having the formula?
7. The formula, Penji giving it to Sally? Dolly searching for it? Their combining their efforts? Going to see the boss? The unmasking of the spies?
8. The settlement, the timebomb, the explosives, Jeems and Penji and their taking the bomb onto the road, the car in pursuit, their crash into the water, the explosion?
9. Penji, his theories, the sun and its rays, the basis for experiments with explosions? Ultimate success?
10. A film of its time – its value in retrospect?
