Up in Mabel's Room

Up in Mabel's Room (1944)

Genres - Comedy  |   Sub-Genres - Farce  |   Release Date - Sep 12, 1944 (USA - Unknown)  |   Run Time - 76 min.  |   Countries - United States  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Review by Craig Butler

Those in the mood for some mindless laughs will find moderate entertainment in Up in Mabel's Room, a film that is almost indistinguishable from the similar Getting Gertie's Garter. As that statement might suggest, there's virtually nothing original or innovative in Mabel, so viewers who have a low tolerance for familiar situations should definitely look elsewhere. However, if Mabel lacks originality, it does follow a very tried-and-true formula, and it knows how to play that formula for laughs and fun. It's possible that Mabel might have been a bit more entertaining had this version not been made in the post-Code years, for it's basically a sex comedy in which a husband doesn't want his wife to find out about his premarital indiscretions. As such, it demands a bawdier, more forthright tone than could be used once censorship came in. That said, director Allan Dwan does allow a few winks and nudges to make their presence felt. More importantly, he keeps things moving at a good pace, absolutely crucial for this kind of nonsense. The cast is fine; if they are not standouts (with one exception), they do fit their roles well. The exception is Mischa Auer, who generates considerably more laughs than he really should be able to given the material. Mabel is nothing special, but it's a pleasant little diversion.