Watch The Bashful Bachelor

Chester Lauck and Norris Goff, the popular comedy duo known as Lum and Abner, star in the 1942 film, The Bashful Bachelor. The movie also features the talented actress Zasu Pitts. The Bashful Bachelor follows the life of Abner Peabody (played by Norris Goff), a simple and shy man who lives with his friend and business partner Lum (played by Chester Lauck) in the rural town of Pine Ridge. Abner is in love with a schoolteacher named Myrtle, but he is too afraid to express his feelings to her.

As the story unfolds, the town is buzzing with the news that a wealthy bachelor named Homer Thompkins (played by Granville Bates) is coming to visit Pine Ridge. Homer is looking for a wife, and the town's eligible bachelorettes are all vying for his attention. Lum and Abner are not interested in the competition, but they are in for an unexpected surprise when Homer mistakenly believes that Abner is the wealthy bachelor.

Abner is uncomfortable being in the spotlight and doesn't want the attention. However, Lum convinces him to play along with the mistaken identity for their business's sake. Lum sees the opportunity to attract more business to their store by having Abner befriend the wealthy bachelor.

With the help of their friends, Lum and Abner set up an elaborate scheme to keep up the ruse. They go as far as to set up Abner with a fake butler and cook to portray the lifestyle of a wealthy bachelor to Homer. Things get complicated when Myrtle gets involved, and Abner's true identity is revealed.

The Bashful Bachelor is a delightful comedy that showcases the talents of the three main stars. Lauck and Goff's chemistry as Lum and Abner is evident, and their ability to bring comic relief to the story is superb. Zasu Pitts' performance as the meddling Miss Peabody adds to the humor of the film. Her character's attempts to inject some discipline and order into the men's lives make for hilarious scenes.

The movie is a product of its time, and it showcases some of the attitudes and customs of rural society in the 1940s. The role of women is one of the areas where the film shows its age, with the female characters primarily portrayed as secondary to the male characters, responsible for cooking and cleaning tasks.

Overall, The Bashful Bachelor is a light-hearted and entertaining comedy. It's not a movie that will make you think deeply or provoke introspective thought, but the charming performances of the three leads make it an enjoyable watch for anyone looking for a few laughs. With its straightforward plot and well-executed jokes, it’s easy to see why the film was so popular during its time.

The Bashful Bachelor is a 1942 classic with a runtime of 1 hour and 18 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2.