Me and My Gal (1932)

US 79m, B&W
Director: Raoul Walsh; Cast: Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, Marion Burns, George Walsh,
J. Farrell MacDonald, Will Stanton

Largely a romantic comedy, Me and My Gal has odd dramatic elements punctuated by slapstick comedy provided by Will Stanton, a little-known actor who steals scenes in his portrayal as a local drunk. Apart from a sub-plot involving an escaped convict who attempts to evade police, this is essentially the story of a New York policeman who falls in love with a plucky waitress. As the happy couple, Tracy and Bennett also provide the film’s most memorable scenes, including a lively flirtatious exchange in which their thoughts are “spoken” in addition to their dialogue. Though uneven in spots, Me and My Gal feels a lot more modern than many comparable romantic comedies that followed in the 40s and 50s (Klaus Ming January 2014).