George Washington Slept Here

Buy This Item George Washington Slept Here by MGM (Video & DVD)  Available from Amazon  $19.98  on 10-4-2008     "George Washington Slept Here" stars Ann Sheridan and Jack Benny as a married couple that buys a run down house where supposedly George Washington slept. The movie has a clear resemblance to films like "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" and "The Jackpot", in which unsuspecting nice people find themselves in complicated situations where one mishaps leads to another. <br /> <br /> I've always been a big Jack Benny fan. I think he had the greast comedic persona of all time. His persona has been so strong to this very day some people have difficulty thiking of him any other way. We completely bought the character he played. Benny though had trouble finding films that made use to his talents. Like Bob Hope or W.C. Fields their movies were really just excuses for their fans to pay money to see them iin movies. Plot really don't matter, we just came for the jokes. I have seen Benny in "To be or not To Be" and "The Horn Blows at Midnight". I enjoyed his performance in both, but, believe it or not I found Benny all wrong for this movie. Now perhaps this isn't Benny's fault. The movie was based on a play written by Kaufman and Hart. Maybe they never intended for Jack Benny to ever play this role. But I found Benny annoying in this movie. All he does is complain. And Ann Sheridan is annoying for a completely different reason, her stupidity. She's so optimistic. <br /> <br /> "George Washington..ect" also lacks the charm of a film like "Mr. Blandings". In that movie Cary Grant and Mryna Loy played their parts straight. Here Benny and Sheridan know they are in a comedy. Especially Benny. <br /> <br /> Given Jack Benny's persona its a shame the movie doesn't take advantage of it. Benny just dishes out cash, never complaining. This is the same man who said "I'm thinking it over" when held at gun point and told "Your money or your life!". What if, in order to save money Benny decided to help fix the place. This would have caused more funny scenes, and would have shown Benny gaining an emotional investment in the house. <br /> <br /> The film was directed by William Keighley who also directed Kaufman and Hart's film adaptation of "The Man Who Came To Dinner", there is a direct reference to that play in this film. He also directed several Errol Flynn movies; "The Master of Ballantrae", "The Adventures of Robin Hood", and "The Prince and the Pauper". But I'm not convince he understood comedy. And that's what hurts this movie most. <br /> <br /> Bottom-line: Good promise that doesn't quite deliver. Benny isn't used to his fullest capabilities and that hurts the movie. Not enough big laughs, but, if you're a Jack Benny fan check it out. Reader Reviews I loved Jack Benny's performances. I won't go into all the antic of the film, the other review capped a few for you. This movie is charming and funny. It is a seldom seen film and wish this was on DVD. Please someone get this on DVD!

George Washington Slept Here Available from Amazon Price: $19.98 Updated on 10-4-2008.

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