A major misstep in the Don Knotts series of features that included such clean family entertainment as "The Ghost and Mr Chicken" and "The Reluctant Astronaut"
Unlike its "G" rated predecessors this film was rated two levels higher (originally "M" which became "PG-13")
American audiences did not go to a Don Knotts feature to hear words like "filth" "pornographic" "degenereate" and "pervert"
Knotts plays the same basic small town guy he always did, in this case the 4th generation publisher of a bird watching magazine. When the magazine goes bankrupt it is purchased by the owner of a sleazy girlie magazine in order to use it's mailing license. Don is framed for selling smut and unexpectedly wins a court trial becoming an instant celebrity in the cause of civil rights in the "sexual revolution".
With the same pedigree as Knotts' previous films including a twangy Vic Mizzy score, you'd expect a lighter touch but somehow this film just seems tawdry and out of step, especially the first half.
'Back to the Future' fans will easily recognize the Universal back lot which became "Hill Valley, California". Indeed the same small town main street was used in all 4 of the 60's Knotts films.
'Desperate Housewives' fans will get a kick out of seeing Don walk down what, 35 years later, would be Wysteria Lane.
If you HAVE seen the previous 3 comedies (4 if you count Warner Bros. "Incredible Mr. Limpet") you may want to see this out of curiosity but if you haven't, see the others first.
Unlike its "G" rated predecessors this film was rated two levels higher (originally "M" which became "PG-13")
American audiences did not go to a Don Knotts feature to hear words like "filth" "pornographic" "degenereate" and "pervert"
Knotts plays the same basic small town guy he always did, in this case the 4th generation publisher of a bird watching magazine. When the magazine goes bankrupt it is purchased by the owner of a sleazy girlie magazine in order to use it's mailing license. Don is framed for selling smut and unexpectedly wins a court trial becoming an instant celebrity in the cause of civil rights in the "sexual revolution".
With the same pedigree as Knotts' previous films including a twangy Vic Mizzy score, you'd expect a lighter touch but somehow this film just seems tawdry and out of step, especially the first half.
'Back to the Future' fans will easily recognize the Universal back lot which became "Hill Valley, California". Indeed the same small town main street was used in all 4 of the 60's Knotts films.
'Desperate Housewives' fans will get a kick out of seeing Don walk down what, 35 years later, would be Wysteria Lane.
If you HAVE seen the previous 3 comedies (4 if you count Warner Bros. "Incredible Mr. Limpet") you may want to see this out of curiosity but if you haven't, see the others first.