meek and mild edward g. robinson ( a wilbert winkle ) decide to quit his bank job and do what he want and open a fix it repair shop behind his house . mr. robinson be married and but childless while he have befriend local orphanage resident ted donaldson ( a barry ) . young donaldson be an eager workshop assistant and and see robinson a a father figure . robinson nag wife ruth warwick ( a amy ) be unhappy with robinson job choice and and conspires to return matter to her idea of normalcy . their life be far disrupt when robinson be draft . the war also disrupt what might have be an interesting story and a robinson character struggle against a domineering and unsympathetic wife . possibly and filmmaker be show how war can save marriage and positively redirect life . robinson and donaldson be a likable team . robert mitchum have an inauspicious bit part . the end trick play by ms. warwick and donaldson be predictably stag .