Puddin' Head (1941)

Puddin’ Head: Directed by Joseph Santley. With Judy Canova, Francis Lederer, Raymond Walburn, Slim Summerville. Harold l. Montgomery, the scatterbrain vice-president of the United Broadcasing System, is dismayed when he learns that one-foot of the ground on which the station’s imposing new structure has been built is part of the adjoining lot belonging to Judy Goober, a hillbilly girl, who could sue them for millions. Mortally afraid of his domineering, ill-tempered sister, Matilda. who is the president of the company, Montgomery decides to say nothing to her regarding the problem and, instead, takes his equally-scatterbrained son, Junior, with him to the Ozarks to talk Judy into selling the property before she learns the truth. But Judy turns out to be a hard-sell and Montgomery enlists the services of handsome Prince Karl, a frayed-at-the-cuffs but glib-of-tongue Russian who faces jail for back-alimony payments, and needs any job he can get.

“In the old lexicon, a musical laugh riot. Saw a rare screening of this vintage Judy Canova romp tonight, and became an instant fan. Alma Kruger owns a radio network that builds a brand new HQ in New York accidentally, on several feet of land owned by the Goobers of Withering Heights, Arkansas. Husband Raymond Walbrun and son Eddie Foy Jr. go to Arkansas to buy the strip of land from Judy and father Slim Summerville at their general store. Judy is the telephone operator and has her own local radio show via the party line. Judy sings the title song to her phone customers and shatters glass with an operatic glissando at the end of the song. (This gag is repeated throughout the picture!) When the New Yorkers arrive, Judy wrongly assumes they want to buy the general store and proceeds to sell it to them, only to find out they really want the New York property she inherited recently. Judy and Slim move to New York to live in the suitably run-down mansion. They do battle with the slickers, and Judy has the last laugh in the end. Several great Judy Canova numbers, including a riotus song-and-dance with Eddie Foy poolside at his palatial home. Judy is like watching Minnie Pearl, Fanny Brice and Lily Pons all rolled up in one. Cornball, yes. But very entertaining considering it is a rare Republic non-cowboy musical. I am a city slicker, but canu0026#39;t wait to see more Judy. Canova, that is!”