Such a frustrating disappointment

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

There is a lot of talent involved in this movie. They all perform as expected. the problem lies with the script, which was corny, dull and repetitive for the forties, and would have been also in the 30s, even in the 20s!! When released,it flopped, and no wonder.Ann Sheridan always said the reason was the lack of chemistry between her and Gary Cooper, but the real reason for me, a great fan of both of them is the script. It is monotonous and seems to go on forever.... The production values are all first rate: cast, sets and direction are first class A pity those responsible did not see what the result would be, in time. A pity for all concerned, including us, the audience .

With two top actors, Gary Cooper and Ann Sheridan, and one of the best directors of his day, Leo McCarey, you have the formula for a great film. Unfortunately, "Good Sam" is NOT a great movie...nor is it even a good one. In fact, it's one of the biggest wastes of talent due to a painfully bad script with a painfully unfunny premise. In fact, I found it painful to sit and watch this film.Gary Cooper plays Sam (Good Sam--Good Samaritan...get it?!). Sam is just too nice to be true and makes Ned Flanders (from "The Simpsons") seem like Hitler by comparison! This is because Sam is so generous, so nice and so trusting that everyone in town takes advantage of him. However, in the process, his own family keeps getting the short end of things and his ultra-patient wife eventually has enough. And, after seeing Cooper play such a simpering guy, your probably have had enough by then as well! The bottom line is that NO ONE is that nice as well as that thoughtless when it comes to their family. The story just comes off as contrived and ridiculous.Incidentally, this movie was a big box office loser when it debuted, so it's not just my opinion that it's a bad film--America and film critics at the time also thought it was pretty bad!

It took three years for Leo McCarey to get back to the screen after directing Bing Crosby in that double barreled triumph of Going My Way and The Bells of St.Mary's. Sad to say, Good Sam didn't quite live up to the standards of those two films. Leo took no Oscar nominations home for this one.Gary Cooper is a fine upstanding citizen with wife Ann Sheridan and two small kids and a mooching live-in brother-in-law played by Dick Ross. He's an impulsive do gooder, an easy touch for a sob story and a handout. He drives poor Ann to distraction. A sermon by minister Ray Collins at the beginning of the film on the virtues of charity put Cooper's generosity into overdrive. It's a nice film, maybe a bit too unbelievable. I can't believe that Ann Sheridan hadn't taken Coop in tow by this point of her marriage. Two noted baseball immortals, Babe Ruth and Dizzy Dean, had in common the fact that they both married strong willed women who took charge of the finances lest their hubbys give it all away.Still I did like the message of the film which is delivered by Harry Hayden who has a small role as a banker. Coop's generosity not only with cash, but co-signing loans for various people has put him as a credit risk. When he needs the money he can't get a loan from the bank. But later on Hayden comes over to the house and tells Sheridan that he changed his mind and approved the loan for their new house. Character and decency should count for something. It was a very similar message to one that was delivered in a far better film, The Best Years of Our Lives when Fredric March as a veteran who returns to his job as a bank loan officer, approves a loan to a veteran on the strength of his character.Character and decency should count, but Coop's pants pockets still needed a lock put on them.

I recently had the opportunity to see this film after about 30 years and I think I enjoyed it more this time! What a wonderful film! This should be on the list of 'must sees' for any Gary Copper fan. The talented Cooper was able to play anything from a western to the wonderful, good hearted Sam. This is a light hearted look at the consequences that can occur when you extend yourself once too often. I never laughed so much at the comical situations that good ol' Sam gets himself into. The dead pan Ann Sheridan was the perfect choice for Sam's wife. She was really an untapped source as an actress, very underrated! If you have the chance to see this delightful film, please do, you won't be sorry!