The plot of "Pot o' Gold" jumps all over the place, and the screenplay hardly gives much substance to any character development or romantic relations between the leads. And, that's mostly because it's so frenetic. The frenzy is mostly music, but includes some hurrying here and there by some of the lead characters. The most prominent of those is a very boisterous and bellicose Charles Winninger as C. J. Haskell.
The music and crazy comedy make the picture. James Stewart is Jimmy Haskell, a small town music store owner who inherited his dad's shop. He's also the nephew of the health food king and millionaire, C. J. Haskell. When Jimmy can't make the payments any longer, he takes up his uncle's offer which was more of a plea to join him and eventually inherit his big business. So, he leaves the small town for the big city.
But, uncle C. J. isn't a happy camper with all his millions. He hasn't been able to expand his plant in one direction because of the widow, Ma McCorkle, played by Mary Gordon. So, they have a type of Hatfield and McCoy feud going, with Ma boarding a whole swing band of young musicians trying to break out in the music world. Their constant playing drives Haskell mad, and he's grown to hate music. Of course, his nephew loves music, having been in the business. And Jimmy himself plays one jivin' harmonica. Well, with Paulette Goddard as Ma's daughter, Molly McCorkle, it's not hard to guess that this will have a happy Hatfield and McCoy ending without bloodshed.
The music and many of the cast parts are played by Horace Heidt and His Californians. It's a crazy film that's nevertheless fun and entertaining. At one point, C. J. is loaded down with a pack that looks like he's gone gold prospecting, and he and a French-speaking guide enter the Hudson Bay Trading Post No 21, in the wilds of northern Canada. With the help of some band members, Jimmy had tricked uncle into thinking he was hearing things - music playing constantly when no one else did, so he needed a long rest somewhere away from the noise of civilization. Here are some favorite lines.
C. J. Haskell, "And I told him when he opened this place, he'd never make a go of it." Jimmy Haskell, "Well, he kept it fairly successful for 25 years. That's not bad."
Mr. Backus, "You know very well that I have charge of the Happiness Hour during Mr. Haskell's absence. He trusts me implicitly." Jimmy Haskell, "Well, not a hundred percent." Backus, "I beg your pardon."
Mr. Backus, "Well, it didn't take you long to undermine me with your uncle, did it?" Jimmy Haskell, "Hmm, mmm." Backus, "How do I know you didn't write that yourself?"
The music and crazy comedy make the picture. James Stewart is Jimmy Haskell, a small town music store owner who inherited his dad's shop. He's also the nephew of the health food king and millionaire, C. J. Haskell. When Jimmy can't make the payments any longer, he takes up his uncle's offer which was more of a plea to join him and eventually inherit his big business. So, he leaves the small town for the big city.
But, uncle C. J. isn't a happy camper with all his millions. He hasn't been able to expand his plant in one direction because of the widow, Ma McCorkle, played by Mary Gordon. So, they have a type of Hatfield and McCoy feud going, with Ma boarding a whole swing band of young musicians trying to break out in the music world. Their constant playing drives Haskell mad, and he's grown to hate music. Of course, his nephew loves music, having been in the business. And Jimmy himself plays one jivin' harmonica. Well, with Paulette Goddard as Ma's daughter, Molly McCorkle, it's not hard to guess that this will have a happy Hatfield and McCoy ending without bloodshed.
The music and many of the cast parts are played by Horace Heidt and His Californians. It's a crazy film that's nevertheless fun and entertaining. At one point, C. J. is loaded down with a pack that looks like he's gone gold prospecting, and he and a French-speaking guide enter the Hudson Bay Trading Post No 21, in the wilds of northern Canada. With the help of some band members, Jimmy had tricked uncle into thinking he was hearing things - music playing constantly when no one else did, so he needed a long rest somewhere away from the noise of civilization. Here are some favorite lines.
C. J. Haskell, "And I told him when he opened this place, he'd never make a go of it." Jimmy Haskell, "Well, he kept it fairly successful for 25 years. That's not bad."
Mr. Backus, "You know very well that I have charge of the Happiness Hour during Mr. Haskell's absence. He trusts me implicitly." Jimmy Haskell, "Well, not a hundred percent." Backus, "I beg your pardon."
Mr. Backus, "Well, it didn't take you long to undermine me with your uncle, did it?" Jimmy Haskell, "Hmm, mmm." Backus, "How do I know you didn't write that yourself?"