Movie. Christmas in July, 1940. (HIx: 1)
Another Preston Sturges rollicking surprise-twist comedy.
What would you do if you won the big prize and got the check, but it was in error?
The blue-collar ethnic hero of this story does, and his response is to buy presents for everyone in the neighborhood. What will happen when the error is discovered? is the question that maintains the tension to drive the story forward.
There is a bit of a Jewish tone throughout– when the happy uproar in the neighborhood breaks out, the mother and friends, hearing it, but not knowing its origin, mutter things like “it must be a funeral,” “probably an accident– only lost an arm or leg” and other such speech tricks that Wex explained to us.
Likewise, an authority figure is challenged at one point, “who do you think you are, Hitler?” (laughter from everyone). This is a bit extreme or contrived or macabre, depending on which historical perspective you take.
Nevertheless, an enjoyable evening.