it be true that edgar bergan and charlie mccarthy be far more effective in their national audience on radio than in the movie . this be due to the close up affect of cinematography on bergen face he could not hide the fact that his lip move a little . when on a stage in a nightclub or in vaudeville he would be too far away to be see move his lip . not so on film . but bergan and mccarthy put ventriloquism on the map . their act and radio show take the art of throw one voice and bring a biting humor to it and give the dummy a real personality represent a wise guy little man and with an eye for the lady and an eye for make trouble for people he do not like ( among whom be field ) . the feud of mccarthy and field mirror the contemporary feud of fred allan and jack benny and except that allan and benny be both real . but on radio charlie be as real a uncle claude be and so the fact that it be a block of wood that be manipulate fight a real life man do not matter . the public just love charlie remind field of his alcoholism and in particular his large red nose . and the public love the threat of field to give charlie a ride on a buzz saw . because of the strong personality of mccarthy and a movie audience even today look at this film and tend to ignore bergen slight lip movement . charlie be the real personality of interest and not edgar here play a hard working young man who would like to marry vicki whipsnade ( constance moore ) but be resign that she want to marry a wealthy young wastrel instead . bergen could act ( look at his performance in i remember mama and a ellen corby boyfriend or husband and and his comic scene there with oskar homolka regard the dowry ) . but he do not have to act a bergen here all he have to do be let charlie do his job ( and and for that matter and let mortimer snerd do his work too in two scene ) . the trick use by the director to have scene where charlie appear without bergan be just even more effective and a they enhance the idea of an independent comic personality come out of the dummy . for field there be many choice moment too . his walk and supposedly naked after a shower and across the circus ground hidden behind people carry item and or elephant and other animal and until a lady scream and faint ( and field be finally physically reveal to the audience ) be a gem . so be his wreck the bel goody engagement party and first by his mad ping pong match and and then by his insistence of tell the story of how his life be save once by an intelligent rattlesnake ( not realize that mrs. bel goody hat even the mention of snake ) . his interaction with the circus staff and with the idiotic grady sutton and with labor union organizer edward brophy and and with the various people buy ticket for the circus and or for that matter mispronounce his name a larceny whipsnake be priceless . so be his own attempt at ventriloquism represent he do it so you can not see his lip move and but you just can not believe he be throw his voice . well he be throw dust or something else at that moment . but it be his running confrontation with mccarthy and some of which he actually lose ( he have one where he have to bribe charlie at one point to keep quiet ) that maintain the audience attention . the film be one of field best one and and deservedly retain it popularity to this day .