Wide Open

Moviecut—Wide Open

source: Wide Open

Wide Open

A socially awkward man with asexual tendencies has to deal with a woman who breaks into his home, and pretends to be ill. First 15 minutes were funny, lighthearted, and the lead's meekness was charming. His interactions with people especially his housemaid, were funny, and showed good comedic timing and chemistry between the actors. But as soon as Julia shows up and pretends to fall ill, she sucks the life out of the movie. She's boring, 2 dimensional, doesn't add anything. No personality, and not funny, and she drags Edward and the movie down with her. By the end Edward loses his individuality and becomes another male clone.

Veteran actor Edward Everett Horton plays the role of timid employee, Simon Haldane who has ideas for improving his boss's business but lacks courage to tell him about it. However the boss's daughter Doris (Patsy Ruth Miller) who is bold and little boisterous knows exactly how to go about it. Doris gives Simon confidence in his ideas and the company benefits and promotes him to the general manager In the meantime problems arise for Simon since Agatha, the stenographer of the office is interested in him and so is a stranger who finds his address and comes to his house with her mother demanding that he marry the strange girl. Finally the problems are resolved and Simon and Doris head to the altar. The movie is directed by Archie Mayo and screenplay written by James Starr and Arthur Caesar. This is very funny movie and I am sure you will enjoy watching it.

Edward Horton is Simon, meek, mild mannered worker. When co-worker Agatha and her mother bust into Simon's apartment, it seems to be a set up. they leave (apparently), and another young, partially dressed girl (Patsy Miller) shows up in his living room. the script needed fixing up, but it IS an early film with Edward Horton, in his usual complaining, overwhelmed self. the sound and picture are a bit iffy, but this is already 90 years old, so we're lucky to have such an oldie at all. and it's 1930, so it was still okay to show partially dressed women running around your living room. fast talking, not much of a plot, kind of runs like a vaudeville bit. This was one of six films Horton and Miller made together. pretty bland, but interesting for historical reasons. I'm a big fan of Edward Horton, and they gave him much better scripts over the next 20 years. Directed by Archie Mayo, who directed Bogart in Petrified Forest. Based on a book by Edwin Morris.

"Wide Open" is an unusual film in that Edward Everett Horton, a supporting actor, is in the lead--and it's a very pleasant little comedy. Simon is a VERY mousy guy who hates women (Horton). He also is mistreated by those around him because he's so meek. However, one day, out of the blue, 'Miss Jones' (Patsy Ruth Miller) shows up at his house and just won't get lost--no matter how much Simon hates and is afraid of women. When some folks at work find out that a woman is at Simon's house, they think that Simon has gotten married and throw them a party. What's next? Well see it for yourself. Just be prepared--it's a very sweet and funny conclusion to the story. In addition to these two actors, look for the Mack Sennett star, Louise Fazenda--the wife of producer Hal Wallis. And, note the many double-entendres which would NOT have been allowed after the Production Code would be enacted in mid-1934! Overall, a cute story--and ample proof that Horton was a very likable actor.

Mild little comedy and early talky. Perhaps the main attraction is the fey Edward Everett Horton as a leading man. His addled attitude toward sex with the aggressive Julia (Miller) is often a hoot and makes for a different kind of farcical comedy. Just who is she and why has she moved into his house in a seductive manner. He's just too confused to send her away. So she stays, setting up one amusing seduction scene after another. Remember, this is pre-Code 1930, so bedroom set-ups are much more explicit. No real belly laughs here, but Horton does manage a different kind of role and the sort of mugging he made a career of. (Note-- one cutting edge of consumer technology in 1930 is a phonograph needle!)

Wide Open showcases the comedy talents of Edward Everett Horton and Patsy Ruth Miller who work well as a team. This was one of the 5 pictures they made together in 1929-31. This one contains several amusing scenes (the sleepwalking scene) and good comic support by Louise Fazenda. Horton plays the usual befuddled bachelor who's made fun of by everyone else. Miss Miller is quite charming as his potential love interest who gives him some much needed self-confidence. This is one of her few surviving Warner Bros. talkies. No great shakes but a good, enjoyable comedy.