Vacation in Reno (1946) comes from the RKO assembly line. It's stocked with contract actors from the studio, was written by a career RKO writer, and directed by another RKO lifer. And while it's just a little wisp of a movie, Vacation in Reno proves that the studio system wasn't such a bad thing. The movie plays like an hour-long sitcom from the days before television - and even for a B-movie it's better written than most of what's on TV now. The studio system, despite its machine-like production line, also allowed artists to hone their craft. And this craftsmanship is visible in Vacation in Reno which relies on unique characters and offbeat situations for its humor.

For starters, we have Jack Carroll (played by the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz (1939) - Jack Haley), an inventor/rabbit farmer who's always on the lookout for the next get-rich scheme. His latest idea involves a metal detector and a book called "Famous Undiscovered Treasure." When Jack goes off to Reno to dig for gold, his wife Eleanor thinks he's looking for a quickie divorce. She follows him to a dude ranch where the situation gets complicated -- Jack gets mixed up with bank robbers, the police, and another woman claiming to be his wife.

RKO contract actress Anne Jeffreys plays Jack's wife Eleanor. Vacation in Reno was typical of the B-films Jeffreys was cast in during her 5 years at the studio. Prior to RKO, Jeffreys' career included a brief stint at MGM and a bit part opposite signing idols Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in their last film I Married An Angel (1942). She also appeared in several Republic Westerns, often alongside Gabby Hayes in the Wild Bill Elliott series. But one of Jeffreys' most memorable roles came at RKO in the Dick Tracy series. She played Tess Trueheart in two films, Dick Tracy, Detective (1945) and Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946). Jeffreys left RKO in the late '40s for television. She and second husband Robert Sterling (the former husband of Ann Sothern) starred in the sitcom Topper from 1953-55 as ghosts George and Marion Kerby. The series was nominated for an Emmy in 1954 as Best Sitcom.

Another RKO veteran, Leslie Goodwins, directed Vacation in Reno. Goodwins got his start directing two-reelers at RKO, working frequently with comedian Edgar Kennedy and character actor Leon Errol. Goodwins would later employ Errol in the Mexican Spitfire series of films. These films, starring Lupe Velez, are probably Goodwins' best-known work. Also on board for Vacation in Reno was writer Charles E. Roberts. Roberts, like Goodwins, got his start in RKO short subjects. In his thirteen years at RKO, Roberts penned some 70 plus shorts and features - including six entries in the Mexican Spitfire series.

Producer: Leslie Goodwins, Sid Rogell
Director: Leslie Goodwins
Screenplay: Charles E. Roberts, Arthur A. Ross, Charles Kerr
Cinematography: George E. Diskant
Film Editing: Les Millbrook
Art Direction: Lucius O. Croxton, Albert S. D'Agostino
Music: Paul Sawtell
Cast: Jack Haley (Jack Carroll), Anne Jeffreys (Eleanor), Wally Brown (Eddie Roberts), Iris Adrian (Bunny Wells), Morgan Conway (Joe), Alan Carney (Angel).
BW-60m.

by Stephanie Thames