So You Want a Model Railroad

So You Want a Model Railroad (1955)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Decent entry in the series finds Alice going on a radio show and explaining to Mr. Agony why her husband Joe McDoakes is so bad. He isn't abusive. He doesn't cheat. He doesn't even stay out late. No, Joe's issue is that he saw his nephews model railroad and had to get one for himself but nearly a year later he has drained the bank account and has become mentally unstable. Fans of the McDoakes series will want to check this entry out but if you're new to the character then you might want to start with one of the stronger entries. There are a few funny moments to be found here but most of the jokes are just smile worthy and nothing that's going to make you laugh hard. One of the highlights deals with a scene where Joe enters a train store and guys a couple other shoppers a "round of tracks" as if he was at a bar. Another good sequence happens when the McDoakes have had to fire their maid so Joe rigs a train to deliver their food, which of course doesn't work out too well. George O'Hanlon is in good form as is Jane Frazee as the wife and Arthur Q. Bryan, the voice of Elmer Fudd, plays the radio personality.