IT HAPPENS EVERY SPRING (1949)

Twelve years before college professor Fred MacMurray accidentally invents Flubber (and helps the basketball team) in THE ABSENT-MINDED PROFESSOR, college professor Ray Milland accidentally invents a nameless formula that's repelled by wood and helps himself become a baseball star.

Milland is a poor professor who wants to get some money together so he can marry a sexy student that's 21-years younger than him. The answer to his problem comes in the form of a baseball through the window of his laboratory. It crashes into his big experiment and Milland discovers that the liquid mess it leaves behind strongly repels wood. Instead of analyzing and patenting this new formula and then selling it for a ton of money, he secretly runs away and joins a major league baseball team! While he's out on the road winning games nonstop, his girlfriend is so worried about him she starts to believe that he's joined a gang of jewelry store thieves!

A strong suspension of disbelief is required to enjoy this film properly. First off, why does he just disappear? If he's intending on marrying this young woman then he should at least be honest with her. Secondly, how the hell does the fact that an unknown 44-year-old man can just walk off the street, join a major league team and then proceed to strike out everybody not garner more attention? Thirdly, why don't the officials get involved. I would think some guy striking out every batter he ever faces would be suspicious. And finally why doesn't he guard his secret formula more safely? He leaves it laying around everywhere. Just out in the open for any moron to mess with.

I liked IHES, but I wish it had either taken itself more seriously or just gone the full slapstick route. As it is it's a mildly interesting watch, but I can't see myself ever wanting to watch it ever again.

FOUR FRIGHTENED PEOPLE (1934)

Bubonic plague breaks out on a ship, so four of the passengers (a journalist, a teacher, a chemist and the wife of a politician) steal a lifeboat and head for a nearby island. Once there, they're informed by a native that the only way to civilization is to walk to the other side of the island. A four or five day journey through the jungle...and he would gladly show them the way. Unfortunately, this guy is an idiot and not only did he neglect to tell them there's hostile tribes in the jungle (not to mention a lot of icky creatures), he gets them fucking lost! So now they're wandering around aimlessly in circles. Not to fear though, because as the clothes slowly fall of of the mousy teacher (Colbert), the two guys suddenly realize that once she lets her hair down and looses the cheaters...that she's really hot! So now with romance in the air, the two guys joust over the affections of the fair maiden as cobras hiss and natives fling arrows through the necks of other natives.

For an early sound adventure/drama, FOUR FRIGHTENED PEOPLE is alright. It's a little too melodramatic, but it's still an entertaining watch. I was particularly impressed that it was filmed entirely on location. I found myself thinking about how I would love to see a behind the scenes feature showing the film crew lugging around those old gigantic cameras through the jungle.

If you're into classic cinema, then FFP is a good watch. It won't change your life or anything, but it's a solid film. Recommended. I am curious now as to what is the earliest movie to feature a hot chick "hidden" behind spectacles, pulled up hair and unflattering clothes?

I like how the Morse Code message was animated out on the wires of the ship.