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Knock On Wood Blu-ray Review

“Knock on Wood” isn’t one of Danny Kaye’s finest hours.

Jerry (a professional ventriloquist with psychological problems) ventures to Zurich to see a psychologist with the goal of getting his relationship issues resolved. While en route to his destination, he continually and comedically bumps into a woman (and future love interest) who winds up being his Doctor. While all of this is going on, Jerry unknowingly becomes embroiled in a major incident when two blueprint weapon papers are stashed inside his two dummies. As you can imagine, chaos ensues.

For the first 75 minutes or so, “Knock on Wood” plays like a routine Danny Kaye vehicle complete with a “Kaye character finding himself in trouble” storyline, the outrageous Kaye accents, the infamous Kaye wordplay, and, of course, songs. Unsurprisingly, however, the first 75 minutes is surprisingly light in the comedy department. Sure, the bits with Jerry running into his Doctor are slapsticky fun, but there’s far too much dull drama, romantic schmaltz, and psychoanalysis which causes the pacing too drag.

Thankfully, the last half hour delivers a bundle of laughs as Jerry engages in an elaborate ballet sequence and hides under a desk. I won’t spoil why these scenes are funny, but suffice to say, they play to Kaye’s strengths as a comedian.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.78:1 1080p. How does it look? The picture quality is largely unimpressive due to faded colors, blue flickering, and dirt specs.

Audio Track: DTS-HD MA Mono. How does it sound? Sadly, the audio is often faint and a bit scratchy at times.

No extras have been included.

January 30, 2014 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Danny Kaye, Knock On Wood Blu-ray Review