"Love on a Bet" is an excellent fast-paced comedy with much witty and funny dialog. This is among Gene Raymond's best films and shows his talent for fast-talking and thinking comedy. Here, he has self- deprecating lines and misstatements as he talks, swaps and barters his way from New York to L. A. But, just about everyone in the film gets in on the zingers. Aunt Charlotte (Helen Broderick) is an unabashed goldbricker and she's second with the zingers, only to Raymond.
The plot is crazy to start with - in the genre of the wealthy guy who bets he can make it on his own. Only this one has a different twist - even more far out. Raymond is Michael MacCreigh who needs $15,000 (about $260,000 in 2015 dollars) to back his friend Stephen's play. Uncle Carlton (the meat packing king) thinks the play is dumb and no one would believe it. So, he won't back it but instead wants Michael (aka, "Butch") to go to work for him in the meat business.
Unable to get backing elsewhere, Michael makes a wager with Uncle Carlton. He will take the role of Stephen's lead character and prove that the plot is possible. He will start from New York in nothing more than his underwear, referring to it by the brand name, BVDs. Ten days later he will show up in Los Angeles in a new suit, with $100 in his pocket, and a fiancé on his arm. He can't tell anyone about it or who he is. If he wins, uncle forks over the $15,000. If he loses, he goes to work for uncle - with no complaints.
One knows what's supposed to happen in this movie, but each step along the way, Michael surprises the audience. How he got out of New York without getting pinched for indecent exposure (as Uncle Carlton said was likely to happen) is a hoot.
Without more details of the story, Michael meets Paula Gilbert (Wendy Barrie) and then her Aunt Charlotte and they wisecrack it together all across the country. The many funny scenes yield lots of chuckles and laughter. This film is superb for its fast running dialog of one-liners, wise cracks and witticisms. It may be the zaniest quick- witted screenplay of any film.
For 1936 and RKO as a major studio, this film seems lacking in quality. The screenplay also has some holes and the film editing seems a little shoddy. It may be a "B" picture, and without the top cast of the day. But the players are close to the top and the screenplay is terrific. With tighter writing, editing and better film quality, this could be a 10-star film. All of the cast are very good. Raymond is especially good. Following is a sampling of the clever and funny dialog. For much more of this, see the Quotes section under this IMDb web page of the film.
Michael MacCreigh, "I've seen some of the plays he's backed. They don't hold a candle to this one." Miss Mannerly, "Maybe you'd better hold a candle to it."
Man at Hutchinson's Meeting, "How do you find the market?" Stephen Dody, "Oh, uh, my wife does all the shopping."
Michael, "You're getting to think too much of me, Uncle Carlton. Really, I'm not worth it." Uncle Carlton, "Certainly you're worth it. A man of your accomplishments is not to be taken lightly." Michael, "Say, I'm never taken lightly. When they take me, they take me for everything I've got."
Uncle Carlton, "Are you cold?" Michael, shivering in the cold walk-in cooler, "No. I'm practicing for the DTs."
Aunt Charlotte, "Don't worry. We nearly had him proposing once, we'll do it again." Paula Gilbert, "We? That's an idea. Why don't you get married and have the 12 children?" Aunt Charlotte, "You know, I've often thought of it. But no one else has."
Michael, "I wonder if I could persuade you gentlemen to let me have some of that delicious smelling Mulligan Stew?" Hobo, "Sorry, your honor. We don't believe in handouts." (He spits on the ground.)
Paula, "You're the Central Park lunatic." Michael, "Oh, what do you mean?" Paula, "You are the lunatic." Michael, waving his hand, "That wasn't me. I don't like parks."
Michael, "Well, all my life I've been known as the lesser of two evils."
Michael, holding a jar of jam marked 25 cents, "If you don't mind, I'll take my $2 pay in these preserves." Plaza Ritz Hotel Owner, "Okay. You're getting a good bargain, son. They cost 50 cents each to make." Michael, "Well, how can you do it?" Hotel owner, "Well, we hardly sell any at all. So we don't lose much."
Aunt Charlotte, "This is against my better part of judgment." Michael. "The best part of life is against your better part of judgment."
Michael, "There's an old saying in my family. It's not the sentiment it's the gift."
Donovan, "I don't get this at all. Why don't we just take the car and scram? Why take this mob along?" Morton, "Because, my mental mastodon, in this case, five's company and two's a crowd. At least we two."
Michael, "So, I'm to conclude that she's marrying someone else because she loves me so much?"
Aunt Charlotte, "All men are beasts, only some are more or less house- broken." Paula, "Well, next time, we'll ask for his pedigree."
Michael, "Now, will you marry me" Paula, "No!" Michael, "I'm a pauper and I haven't got a cent." Paula, less firmly, "No." Michael, "I'll probably never amount to anything." Paula, not convincingly, "Nnn no." Michael, "Well, you'll probably have to take in washing." Paula, "Why didn't you say so in the first place?" She smiles and they embrace.