Professor Popinjay's Compendium of Perspicacity

A Non-Review by Professor Popinjay

Naturally, watching films in alphabetical order means I see many films in a row with similar titles such as today’s entries. These two films however shared more in coincidence than just the title. Okay so some jokes were a little dated in both and there were a couple racial insensitivities but even beyond those coincidences…

In Monkey Business, I enjoyed when, in trying to pass themselves off as legitimate passengers aboard the cruise liner, the Marx Brothers stole the passport of the actual Maurice Chevalier who was playing himself in this film. Each Marx brother then in turn attempted to pass himself off as Chevalier one after the other by singing the same Chevalier song. Imagine this happening four times in a row and expecting the Porter to buy it. The façade was of course unsuccessful each time but then who should be next in line behind the impostor brothers but Chevalier himself. As his passport had been stolen he naturally attempted to prove he is himself by, you guessed it, singing the exact same song as his four charlatan predecessors. He was thrown out with the rest of them. Great stuff.

      Like I said, some of the jokes are dated but funny if you know the meaning. Like how the first mate knew there were four stowaways in the cargo hold. They were singing “Sweet Adaline”. Well, you may not know but “Sweet Adeline” is usually a quartet. So if they’re singing “Sweet Adeline” logic follows that there MUST be four of them. Love it.

      The second movie I watched was an old forgotten Disney film starring Dean Jones and who else but Maurice Chevalier! What are the odds!?! In Monkeys Go Home! Chevalier was much older, playing the part of a kindly yet shrewd old parishioner.

      This was a cute story about a man who inherits a French estate in a small olive farming village. Learning there is little profit in olive farming because of current labor costs Dean Jones concocts a plan to employ the help of trained chimpanzees. My favorite part is when his supposed cousin takes up residence on the estate to claim her half of the inheritance. She of course hears the chimpanzees at night who are kept hidden from her. The love interest played by the adorable Yvette Mimieux convinces the imposter cousin that the sounds are the tortured wailing of their late uncle’s dead wives. Dean Jones’ cavalier reaction to his “cousin’s” newfound anxiety is classic. I gotta say, he’s in some stupid movies but I love Dean Jones. Why do I always get him mixed up with Fred MacMurray? I suppose they both did similar films.

    Anywho, the coincidences have all played out. The space/time eddies have all neutralized. Perhaps we can get to some films with more fortunate titles. Except oh crap. Next up is the Misadventures of Merlin Jones and its sequel. Oh well, here we go again! If Chevalier shows up in these films I’m going to do  some eddy swirling myself!