You Never Can Tell
Directed by Lou Breslow
Written by Lou Breslow and David Chandler
1951/US
Universal International Pictures
IMDb page
First viewing/Criterion Channel
Rex Shepherd: Oh Goldie, these are humans we’re dealing with. You can’t tell them the truth and expect them to believe it.
This is a pretty good family comedy but I wouldn’t call it screwball
King is the prized German Shepherd of an eccentric millionaire. The millionaire’s will leaves his estate to the dog with his secretary Ellen (Peggy Dow) as executor. When the dog dies the remainder is to go to Ellen.
Perry Collins (Charles Drake) soon comes to call and tells Ellen he was King’s handler when he was an army dog. One thing leads to another and soon Ellen and Perry are engaged. Shortly thereafter, King is poisoned and dies.
When King goes to animal heaven he asks the gatekeeper permission to return to earth to avenge his murder. His request is granted and he is reincarnated as Rex Shepherd, private eye (Dick Powell). He is accompanied on his mission by a race horse turned sassy friend (Joyce Holden). The rest of the film is devoted to the investigation.
I’m a Dick Powell fan and it was fun to watch him portray a man with doglike characteristics. It’s a pleasant movie.
