This is kind of a one gag film with pianist Arthur Lake pretending to be a masked wrestler known as "the Devil." This could easily be a plot on a half hour situation comedy. Veteran Director Howard Bretherton, who started in silent films, does a good job of keeping the plot moving, keeping it amusing and finishing it in less than an hour. You have two fine character actors in bumbling Arthur Lake and tough guy with a heart of gold Lionel Stander. They are both playing characters in their comfort zone. It is nice to see Dale Evans without hubby Roy Rogers here. She gets more of a chance to act and show her comic side than in most of the Roy Rogers Westerns she was in. She's really quite charming, coming off kind of like Joan Blondell. You're not going to write home to the family about this one, but it does put a pleasant goofy smile on your face for an hour.
Review of The Big Show-Off
