User reviews

George S. Kauffman & Moss Hart's GEORGE WASHINGTON SLEPT HERE was one of Broadway's most successful comedies of the early 1940s, a bright and witty tale with a slightly Americana tone that World War II audiences found particularly appealing. The film version, sparked up by the completely unexpected chemistry of dry-humored Jack Benny and "Oomph Girl" Ann Sheridan, is every bit as charming.

When New Yorkers Bill and Connie Fuller (Benny and Sheridan) are evicted from their apartment (their third change of address in less than a year), wife Connie decides what they need is a place in the country... and buys an incredibly dilapidated house where George Washington is said to have once slept. Needless to say, husband Bill is horrified--and keeps on being horrified as the price of renovation skyrockets.

Benny was most popular when he played himself in roles tailored to his talents, but although this role is a bit atypical his talents are well suited to the constantly harried Bill Fuller--and he has remarkable rapport with co-star Ann Sheridan, an underestimated actress who shows tremendous flair for comedy as his determinedly optimistic wife. Both are well supported by a cast that includes Charles Coburn, Joyce Reynolds, and Percy Kilbride, and Hattie McDaniel (best remembered as Mammy in GONE WITH THE WIND) really shines as Hester, their long-suffering domestic who finds herself with a hole in the kitchen wall big enough for a horse to walk through--and one does! The pace is snappy, the script is witty, and every one is sure to have a good time. Recommended.

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Ann Sheridan buys a dilapidated house believing that "George Washington Slept Here" in this 1942 film also starring Jack Benny, Percy Kilbride, Charles Coburn and Hattie McDaniel. Sheridan and Benny are husband and wife Bill and Connie Fuller, about to be evicted from their apartment because of their dog shredding the hall rug. Wanting to plant roots, Connie has fallen in love with an old house and purchased it, possibly without thinking it through. There's no water, the roof leaks, and Bill falls through the floor and continually falls down the stairs. Their budget triples as their hired handyman (Kilbride) needs to buy more gravel, more this, more that, all the time drilling for water (and finding the neighbor's) - until the couple is nearly out of money. After putting everything they have into the house, they can't pay the $5000 note on it. Hope is in the form of Connie's annoying Uncle Stanley (Coburn), who's come for a visit.

Based on the play by Moss Hart, "George Washington Slept Here" makes a good transition to the screen, thanks to the fabulous delivery of Jack Benny, who is a riot, the charm of the lovely Ann Sheridan, and the deadpan affect of "Pa Kettle," Percy Kilbride. He gives Benny a run for his money in the comedy department. You won't want to miss his rendition of "I'll Never Smile Again" and the one different facial expression he uses in the entire film.

All of the cast is good, including Hattie McDaniel, who watches the dinner table with the dinner on it float away and Charles Coburn as an uncle who only gives gifts of his photo.

Typical chaotic, warm, funny Moss Hart play that he wrote so well. Definitely worth seeing.

This is a better comedy than many reviewers indicate. To appreciate it you have to remember two things - firstly, it was made in 1942, and thus there are quite a few patriotic themes in the movie, since that was the kind of film being made at the beginning of World War II, when the U.S. didn't yet know if it would be successful fighting a two front war in which everything was at stake. The second thing to remember is that Jack Benny did all of his scenes with Percy Kilbride (later known as Pa Kettle) on days in which he had gotten no sleep the night before. He did this deliberately, because Jack had insisted Kilbride play the part when Jack Warner just wanted to insert one of his contract players. Jack Benny insisted that Kilbride made the play and was thus essential for the movie. Jack Benny got his way, but every time Jack Benny looked at Percy Kilbride when he was shooting the movie he broke into hysterical laughter. When the director threatened to remove Benny if he continued this, then Benny decided to stay up all night before he had any scenes with Kilbride because then he was so exhausted that he just didn't care.

If you're in the mood for a light sweet movie from the 40's with Benny's brand of understated comedy, this certainly fits the bill. Just don't expect Benny the miser of Jack's radio and TV days. This film takes advantage of Benny's comic timing and deadpan delivery of comic observations when confronted by outrageous behavior and situations on all sides, but it is just not a role for a cheapskate.

I've always enjoyed stories about a couple moving to the country to either fix up an old house or deal with a house that turns out to be haunted, etc. Along these lines I think of films like 'Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House' and/or the suspenseful 'The Uninvited'. But, of course, with Jack Benny as the star you know you're in for comedy when he and his attractive wife (Ann Sheridan) decide to shed city dweller status and move to a more rural setting. Sheridan has her heart set on a ramshackle old house in Connecticut that seems to be falling apart--but with the help of movie magic she fixes it up and--presto--looks like something out of a House Beautiful catalog. The comedy is outdated and some of it falls short of the mark, but not when neighbor Percy Kilbride is around. Reportedly, Jack and Ann found it hard to keep a straight face when Kilbride cracked some of his dryly humorous observations (in Pa Kettle style). Benny ruined many a take when he was unable to stifle a laugh. Some of the slapstick he and others are subjected to is painful, but all in all this is diverting enough entertainment. Ann Sheridan is a sheer pleasure to watch and Charles Coburn shows up as a story-telling uncle who turns out to be a real phony. Hattie McDaniel and Franklin Pangborn add to the fun, making it worth a peek. One of Benny's better films.

Years before Cary Grant and Myrna Loy tried to build their dreamhouse and decades before Tom Hanks and Shelley Long slipped into their money pit, Jack Benny and Ann Sheridan had a similar architectural mis-adventure. The two star as Bill and Connie Fuller, a couple of Manhattanites forced out of their apartment by their stringent landlord. Behind Bill's back, Connie buys a dilapidated house in the countryside that George Washington allegedly once spent the night in. The two set about fixing the place up, a Sisyphean task that is sure to make you laugh, in William Keighley's 'George Washington Slept Here.'

Based on the play of the same name by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, Everett Freeman's screenplay is frequently funny, occasionally contrived and not terrifically ambitious. The conceit is simple and the narrative structure is linear- a house is renovated. It's not what one would call an unpredictable story. On top of that, the characters aren't especially well- rounded creations, and conflicts which arise between them throughout feel forced. The witty dialogue and sharp interplay between those characters is entertaining, though, and the antics they engage in whilst repairing the house are funny; if not terribly original. It may not be the most sophisticated tale ever, but it is an enjoyable one.

The house- the main location in the film- is the same one used in 'Arsenic and Old Lace,' and Casey Roberts's set dressing and decoration of it is impressive work. Allegedly, the crew roughed the place up with sledgehammers before shooting, and the results are striking. One could be forgiven for thinking the building had really been abandoned for years. This all may seem like a trivial point to make, but when a film revolves around a structure being dilapidated; it's important that it actually does look run-down- the house in 'George Washington Slept Here' really does.

Ernest Haller was a great cinematographer with a keen eye and a real flair behind the camera, with his striking work in films like 'Gone With The Wind' and 'Rebel Without a Cause' still being extolled today. His work on 'George Washington Slept Here' is less laudable, consisting of visuals that are underwhelming and flat- dull, even. Additionally, of issue is Ralph Dawson's editing: a loose affair which leaves the film with an uneven pace- and as the aphorism goes, with comedy it's all in the timing.

A performer of impeccable comic timing, Jack Benny is terrific in the film. He was a suave, instantly likable entertainer of much charm, wit and talent, which he showcases in his performance as Bill. The character was written for him, and is quite similar to the persona established on his radio and television programs. Naturally, the role fits Benny like a glove, and he and co-star Ann Sheridan have a good chemistry on screen.

Sheridan has less to do then Benny, playing the straight-man, so to speak; a feat she was more than capable of. Her understated performance is beguiling, and she proves that she had the ability to handle comedy deftly. From the supporting cast, Percy Kilbride does a memorable turn as an eccentric building contractor, Hattie McDaniel is consistently good as the Fuller's maid and Charles Coburn steals his all too few scenes as the Fullers' tight-fisted uncle.

'George Washington Slept Here' is a light, well-acted and thoroughly enjoyable comedy from William Keighley that is sure to please and amuse. While not particularly original or affecting, the story is entertaining, the dialogue is sharp and stars Jack Benny and Ann Sheridan impress with their comedic talents and ease of performance. It may not bring down the house, but 'George Washington Slept Here' will surely leave a few rolling in the aisles.

The classic of the "ramshackle house in the country" genre is without doubt "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House", and although this predecessor by 6 years does not attain its succesor's high comic level, it is still amusing and worth a see. I must admit I feel ancient when a viewer here writes "Remember Jack Benny?" For those of us who grew up in the fifties he was a titan of early television. Although he and Ann Sheridan cannot match the chemistry of Cary Grant and Myrna Loy in the later flick, they still work well together, and the whole project is abetted by a marvelous script from the unmatched talents of Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, whose best lines go to Benny's Bill Fuller. Also notable are a contribution from Charles Coburn and a cameo from the inimitable Franklin Pangborn. Worthwhile comic viewing.

"George Washington Slept Here" was an interesting departure for Jack Benny. Benny usually played a nice guy--a guy who let funny things happen to him and around him. However, since this film was based on a play, Benny played the role as it was written--acerbic and full of snappy one-liners. If you are used to Benny from his TV show or other films, this type of character is pretty different. Now I am NOT saying that this is a bad change. After all, considering how horribly stupid his wife (Ann Sheridan) is in the film, his sour disposition isn't all that bad--most husbands would have killed her! The film begins with Sheridan's dog, Ramy, getting the family tossed out of yet another apartment. So, without telling her husband, she buys a wreck of an ancient house in the country. She does not bother to ask basic questions--and it turns out that the house doesn't have water, a road, bathrooms and isn't quite structurally sound. No wonder Benny is a crab! As a result, the home becomes a money pit--wiping out all their savings in the never-ending quest to make the place livable.

You wonder if perhaps this film was the inspiration, in part, for "Green Acres". It also is similar to "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House". It's got lots of clever moments and a likable ensemble cast. It's also a tad uneven--with some gags that fall a bit flat (for example the 17-year locusts bit). All in all, worth watching but not a brilliant comedy either.

By the way, while you'd barely recognize it, according to IMDb this house was the same one used for "Arsenic and Hold Lace".

George Washington Slept Here is a tour-de-force for the great Jack Benny. He is given the opportunity to fully display his comedic acting skills here, as the movie is written and directed with class and style. He's ably assisted in the hilarity by the equally great Ann Sheridan, and supporting cast members Percy Kilbride and Charles Coburn add even more comic class to the movie.

This is the kind of movie you can watch with your kids where you find that the entire family enjoys it equally. While some cynics may not enjoy this movie as much as I do (it is clearly a product of it's time), if you find that you enjoy classic comedies then you should give this one a chance.

Hopefully it will be released on DVD soon. (As of this writing, 2/05/05, it is not yet on DVD.)

Percy Kilbride shows up often on Jack Benny's radio show, particular those broadcast during World War II. His deadpan delivery always had the cast and audience in stitches and it is a real treat to encounter Kilbride in roles as a postal official or delivery man, bent on enforcing the "rules" much to the chagrin of Benny, and his sidekicks. Later, as Pa Kettle, Kilbride enjoyed his greatest success. Any fan of Jack Benny and anyone who has access to Benny's radio shows can benefit from "George Washington Slept Here" because you not only get a good look at the man himself, but in this case you get the extra benefit of seeing Benny and Kilbride reprise, so to speak, their wonderfully workable comedy.

Jack Benny and Ann Sheridan play a married couple in New York City, apartment dwellers forced out of their latest residence after their pesky mutt chews up the carpet; Sheridan finds a dilapidated house way out in the country that suits her, not counting on all the money it will take to fix the place up. Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman's play becomes very odd screwball comedy which spends its first act mining laughs from the husband's constant exasperation (and his tendency to fall through weak floors). Later, as pesky relatives--and bills--start accumulating, the movie takes on a different, smarter style, and Benny's peevish disposition is funnier when he's commenting on the harried circumstances rather than having him be a constant klutz. Sheridan is a peculiar match for Benny (the two are more like a boss and his secretary than husband and wife), but Hattie McDaniel gets in some funny wisecracks as their maid and Percy Kilbride is very good as the slow-talking contractor. This tale might have revolved solely around the couple's attempts to fix up their historical shack, but this gets taken care of fairly quickly (a blessing); once the slapstick bend comes to a close, the picture finally takes shape. **1/2 from ****

Before Cary Grant and Myrna Loy were building their dream house in Connecticut, Jack Benny and Ann Sheridan moved out to the Pennsylvania countryside to a fix me up house where rumor hath it, George Washington Slept Here.

The film is based on a play of the same name by Kaufman and Hart and Benny and Sheridan make a good pair of marrieds. Rumor also hath it that Jack and Ann got romantically involved during the making of the film.

Sheridan has a passion for antiques and while on a shopping trip for same in Pennsylvania comes across an old colonial house that's definitely seen better days. On an impulse she buys it and charms her somewhat grouchy husband that life in the country is what they need.

If you've seen Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House you know exactly what the situations that will come up. In fact Tom Hanks in The 'Burbs faced similar problems for you younger movie viewers.

Benny and Sheridan are backed by a wonderful cast of character actors, that include Charles Coburn as their uncle, Douglas Croft as their delinquent nephew, Charles Dingle as their fatuous and greedy neighbor, Hattie McDaniel as what else the maid, and Percy Kilbride as the man in charge of repairing the old dump.

Jack Benny was never really able to translate his radio popularity to the big screen as Bob Hope was. George Washington Slept Here is probably the best of his big screen efforts.

And even at that it ranks up there with a lot of good screen comedies. Check it out if possible.

Rumor hath it George Washington took his boots off in many a house.

This movie just doesn't have the slyness of the movie it seems to most resemble - "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House". It plays out in a very stiff, mostly unimaginative fashion, introducing characters you think are going to figure in the storyline, then casually discarding them like afterthoughts. Jack Benny, of course, was a very gifted comedian and this should have been a good vehicle for him, but he limited his feature film appearances (when he wasn't doing cameos as himself) and here you can see why. He gets most of the funny lines, but he just isn't able to make his character come alive. You almost expect to see a cue pop up every 30 seconds saying "Insert sarcastic Benny line here."

Ann Sheridan is very appealing and pleasant in her role as Benny's wife, but she's TOO nice. There's supposed to be some spark of electricity between her and her new handsome neighbor (played by some nondescript nobody), but it isn't believable for a second. There needs to be an edge and a playfulness to her to suggest she MIGHT be capable of leaving Benny if he doesn't stop being so jealous. On the plus side, Percy Kilbride (better known as Pa Kettle) is a scream as the slow-talking, hayseed caretaker; and things pick up a little when wonderful character actor Charles Coburn shows up as rich, story-telling Uncle Stanley. It's almost worth enduring the picture just to get to the part where Coburn keeps telling stories that begin with "When I was just a little shaver ..."

Otherwise, hard to believe this ever worked as a stage play.

Funny movie whose comedy premise was picked up several years later by the better known Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948). Here Benny and wife Sheridan exit the city for a rural shack supposedly slept in by our first president. Of course the new digs turn out to be a bottomless money pit and source of irritation for the city-bred Benny. Add grouchy neighbor Charles Dingle, a nasty little nephew, a free-loading Charles Coburn, and a slow- talking handy-man and you've got a madcap mix of comedy antics.

It is an entertaining movie, but with all these promising ingredients why isn't the 90 minutes better than I think it is. For one, there's simply too much going on for director Kheighley to adroitly manage. The situations are inherently amusing, but lack the snap and polish needed to put them over. When Benny falls into the old well, for example, there's neither the reassuring dialog nor comedic reaction that would separate comedy from tragedy. Surprisingly, the scene closes with Benny down the well and viewers in doubt.

Jack Benny was one of the funniest guys around. But his humor was subtle and grew out of character. Radio and TV were perfect since he could play versions of his familiar tightwad personality. As good as he was in those venues, he was not a comedic actor. Here he's permanently flustered with a lot of dialog-- not the strongest suit for a comedian whose specialty were moments of quiet exasperation. He does well enough, but truth be told, the part could have been handled just as well by a dozen other actors. The role was perfect for a Cary Grant-type tizzy as Blandings would prove.

It's Percy Kilbride who walks off with the movie. There's been no one like him before or since. Drop a bomb on him and his deadpan expression wouldn't change. He's totally unflappable with a meat cleaver nose that could slice a side of beef. And what a moment of comedic inspiration when his crackling down-home voice slides into I'll Never Smile Again; it's like a head on Mt. Rushmore suddenly breaking into song. So out of character, it's a total crack up. The movie may not be front-rank, yet it does have its moments.

George Washington Slept Here (1942) ; Brief Review -

Jack Benny and Ann Sheridan's House of Problems is a powerhouse of comic scenarios. I don't know how William Keighley managed to make a comedy based on the myth of a dead man and then make it so alive for 90 minutes. But he did, and he deserves to be hailed for it. Cary Grant and Myrna Loy's "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" (1948) had a very similar plot. It's just that I happened to see that film before Keighley's comedy. This isn't a typical screwball comedy, but a very organic comedy drama. Connie has a habit of changing houses soon after every small argument, and she buys an old, deserted house in a rural country. The broker tells her that George Washington slept here once. Connie's husband, Bill, is frustrated about Connie's childish fascination with the places and begins to rebuild the good-for-nothing place with her. There are no stairs, no bathroom, and no water. Well, that's not it. After compromising on every basic need, they have to pay a huge sum for plants and gardens. Things get worse with each passing day, and then they have some annoying guests to fill the house. How will they carry on, and will they be left with enough money to keep the house? Like I said, it's a funny script, and the screenplay is very engaging. I liked some of those Hollywood references, such as Boris Karloff and the theatricals Bill does around the house. Their aide has a slow accent, and it's hilarious. Charles Coburn burns several laughs, Joyce Reynolds is cute, and Douglas Croft is lovingly naughty. Jack Benny does well as a frustrated and caring husband, while Ann Sheridan fits the role perfectly. William Keighley builds a fine house out of improper features and a limited budget. This one's a must-see to relive the early 40s organic humour and fun.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

This has to be one of the funniest films ever. This was also my first exposure to Jack Benny. I loved his dead-pan delivery. I saw this film some 6 or 7 years ago on TV and have been looking for it on DVD (to no avail) almost ever since. Maybe I had a major case of the giggles that day but, I swear I about fell on the floor laughing at almost every Benny line. Interesting story and just extremely funny! I would highly recommend that anyone who hasn't yet had the opportunity or good fortune to see this wonderful comedy..see it. Of course you will have to see it on VHS as that is the only format it is available in at the moment. The fact that I still remember well the movie after seeing it once about 7 years ago should tell you it made quite an impression on me, as well as my funny-bone! Don't miss it if you haven't seen it yet.

New York City couple Bill and Connie Fuller (Benny and Sheridan) buy a dilapidated house in the country believing that it was once slept in by the First President. Jack Benny was a great comedian with impeccable timing and delivery but this farce doesn't really do him credit. As a situation comedy (the premise is similar to TV's 'Green Acres', 1965), the film is humorous at times but many of the jokes (i.e. asides, quips, comebacks, etc) are strained and not particularly clever or witty. There is also a fair amount of laboured slapstick (especially in the first half) that bordered on Stooge-level nonsense (one character is temporarily silenced by being hit on the back of the head with a hammer). Benny and Sheridan didn't have much 'chemistry' together and the sub-plot of Bill's fear that Connie was having a fling with local historian Jeff Douglas (Harvey Stephens) is forced and contrived, as is the scene where 'Uncle Stanley' (Charles Coburn ) temporarily deceives mean-spirited neighbour Prescott (Charles Dingle) and the trite, overly long denouement, where everyone sits around and drinking cider while the audience awaits the predictable resolution of the crisis. On the plus side, Percy Kilbride as Mr. Kimber, the laconic, morose handyman is excellent and the revelation about rich Uncle Stanley is the best part of the movie. Oscar-winner Hattie McDaniel has a few good lines as Hester the maid but not much is done with the character. Overall, the film is moderately funny but lacks the charm, wit and cleverness needed to make an ageless comedy.

This is one of the funniest films I've ever seen. A local station in Houston used to run this show on new year's eve and I would watch it every year. Few comics can top Benny and his deadpan delivery but Pa Kettle came close in this one as he played the slow motion yard man.

Bill Fuller (Jack Benny) and his antique enthusiast wife Connie (Ann Sheridan) are losing their Manhattan apartment rental due their dog. She tells him that she has already bought a rundown farmhouse in rural Pennsylvania. He is not impressed even if George Washington supposedly slept there once upon a time during the Revolutionary War.

The basic premise is The Money Pit. It has much of the same kind of humor. I like the couple. I would get rid of the running stream next to their house. The water well is more needed without the stream. The house should be on top of a dry hill. When the roof leaks, Bill would be funnier if he's excited to have the water. This is a fun time.

This movie was a rewrite of a Broadway play, where the husband buys the house that George Washington supposedly slept in. But here it's the wife (Ann Sheridan), while husband Jack Benny gets increasingly irritated with the amount of money he's having to shell out. And if you're familiar with Benny's tightwad character, you'll know immediately why the roles were reversed for this film. But the real star is indeed Percy Kilbride, better known from the Ma and Pa Kettle films. One look at his deadpan puss and it's all over for Benny and for the audience. He's the one holdover from the play, and Benny insisted--rightly--on having him in the picture. Also fun to watch is Charles Dingle as a grumpy neighbor. Maybe Benny doesn't have Cary Grant's sophistication in "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House," but this is a funny picture, especially if you're a Benny fan. By the way, a station in Norfolk, VA, used to show this movie every Christmas morning. Why, I don't know, but it's no doubt good to relax with when the presents are unwrapped--or any other time of year.

I realize the movie has a fine cast, that it was adapted from a play by Hart and Kaufman, and that the situation -- city family moves to ramshackle house in the country -- is pregnant with possibilities. I didn't find it too funny.

William Keighley's pedestrian direction doesn't help much. There are long pauses following wisecracks and the editing waits for laughs that just aren't coming.

Here's an example of the humor. Jack Benny is shaving in the bathroom of the New York apartment the family is being kicked out of. Franklin Pangborn is the owner and takes some potential renters on a tour of the place. They enter the bathroom and slowly rummage around in it while Benny stands there gaping, his cheeks covered with shaving cream. Plenty of time for a laugh there. A woman opens some drawers and makes a remark about the chest being roomy. Benny glances down at his undershirt. Silence while the audience cracks up. The chest business is so funny that it's resurrected a minute later. This time Keighley's camera moves in for a close up of Benny's indignant face. Hold for laughs.

Maybe I was in a bad mood or hung over or something but it all fell flat for me -- the repetitive gags, no matter how weak to begin with, the pesky neighbor, the handyman who shuffles deliberately about, the seductive neighbor, the falling through the hole in the floor or down the deepest well in the county. "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" is better done. Even "The Money Pit" and "The Egg and I" are more inventive.

Ann Sheridan mentions that they are on "the old York road". The really was an old York road, a two-day stagecoach trip between Philadelphia and New York City. The road still carries its original name in some places.

I actually prefer this version of the "Home restoration from Hell" concept to the more famous "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House", despite the presence of the ubiquitous Cary Grant in the latter. Perhaps it's because I saw this one first, or because it came first. Whatever the reason, I found Jack Benny to be quite humorous in this starring turn, although the old caretaker nearly stole the show from under him.

8 out of 10.