Jeffrey Hartmann

A loose remake of the 1935 comedy of the same name. Thanks to the efforts of his social-climbing wife Jessie, furniture store employee Wilbur Todd is tossed headfirst into the world of small-town politics. Sized up as a patsy by crooked politician Kirkwood, poor Wilbur is plied with champagne as part of Kirkwood's scheme to land a sweetheart playground-equipment contract.

In 1905, Jessie Todd reads psychologist Basil Pew's book The Woman Behind the Man and becomes inspired to instill the "will to do" in her husband Wilbur. Following a chapter from the book, Jessie coaches Wilbur on how to ask for a raise from his boss, Mr. Kirkwood, the owner of a furniture manufacturing company. Although Wilbur forgets his rehearsed speech, Kirkwood promotes him to supervise the Chicago plant. Deciding that Wilbur should now improve his appearance, Jessie sends him to work wearing a cut-away coat and derby. Wilbur's formal attire leads his fellow workers to believe that there has been a death in the family, and Kirkwood gives him the day off. Retreating to a public park, Wilbur is targeted as a symbol of wealthy indolence by a group of agitators and is stoned. While fleeing from his assailants, Wilbur runs into a ceremony being held to dedicate a park monument. Because of his dress, Wilbur is mistaken for the tardy playground commissioner and photographed with Mrs. McIntosh, the wife of a corrupt industrialist. As the crowd surrounds the "commissioner," Mr. Kirkwood drives past and fires him. After learning about Wilbur's escapade, McIntosh, who wants to sell his company's playground equipment to the parks department, uses his political clout to appoint Wilbur as the new park commissioner. After congratulating Wilbur on his appointment, McIntosh invites him and Jessie to his country house for the upcoming weekend. While in the park, Wilbur sees a child injured when a defective swing, manufactured by McIntosh, breaks. He later learns that McIntosh is using substandard materials to build his equipment. That weekend, McIntosh sends his chauffeur-driven limousine to bring Jessie and Wilbur to his country house. When they arrive, McIntosh is trying to convince Appleby, a wealthy philanthropist, to donate $500,000 to buy playground equipment. When Wilbur refuses to endorse McIntosh's equipment, the industrialist instructs his wife to keep the honest commissioner busy until Appleby leaves the party. To occupy the teetotaling Wilbur, Mrs. McIntosh suggests drinking "bubbly water," and soon both are drunk. Amused by Wilbur's drunken antics, the staid Appleby insists on an introduction and McIntosh tells his wife to take the commissioner upstairs and out of sight. Jealous of Mrs. McIntosh's sudden interest in her husband, Jessie follows them and listens at the bedroom door as the two inebriates discuss candy kisses. Thinking that they are kissing, Jessie goes to her room to pack her bags. After imbibing more champagne, Wilbur dons a dress and stumbles down the stairs. MacIntosh, however, sends him back upstairs to change his clothes while he tries to convince Appleby to sign the contract. In the upstairs hallway, Wilbur encounters Jessie, who announces that she is leaving him. Dressed in his long underwear, Wilbur follows her down the stairs, and as Appleby is about to sign the contract, he sees Wilbur staggering across the floor and introduces himself. After Wilbur informs Appleby that McIntosh's playground is defective, Appleby tears up the contract and Wilbur resigns from the park commission. Upon returning home, Wilbur is forgiven by Jessie and Kirkwood appears at his door to offer him his old job and a raise. Wilbur accepts and volunteers to use his influence to win Kirkwood a contract manufacturing playground equipment.