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Over Christmas break I decided it was about time I saw The Inspector General. I have always admired Danny Kaye, but haven't seen all of his popular films. Seeing White Christmas gave me the kick in the pants I needed to catch up with more of his work.

This movie stars Kaye as a man in a traveling medicine show who gets himself in trouble and winds up in jail. While he's there, the town officials receive notice that the inspector general is traveling in the area. They fear that he might be traveling in disguise and that he will discover that they have been stealing tax money, so they decide to look out for any newcomers to the town. They discover Georgi (Kaye), who proclaims his innocence, and think they may have imprisoned the inspector general, so they decide to give him honor and show him the town.. while trying to kill him here and there on the sly.

This isn't my favorite of his films, but Danny Kaye is, as always, a master of entertainment. And that's what he's there to do in this film, which really doesn't have a very complicated plot. Wanting to save his own neck, he goes along with the act as the inspector general, even though there is only so long he can go before the town officials figure out that he doesn't know how to read.

The highlights are always the musical numbers, especially the ones in which Kaye gives examples of his talents in quick speech. However, some of the setups for his hyperbolic behaviors are a little too obvious and over-the-top. Even for a musical, it feels forced, and I think that takes away from the success of the film. Nevertheless, I'd probably watch it again because Kaye is always so charming. Gene Lockhart also makes an impression as the evil mayor.

If you're into this sort of thing, you'll probably enjoy it mildly. If you grew up watching it, you probably love it. If you're not into this sort of thing, then you probably still wouldn't be after watching it. So it's up to you!