Fast moving, lavish B comedy is the first of two leading role for Mr. Fish n' Chips himself, Arthur Treacher. Seemingly born to play a butler, he's dryly droll, excessively loyal and completely in charge. Like Mr. Belvedere after him, Jeeves made everybody think that they were in charge when really the truth was obvious. The subject of his subordination is the young David Niven, seen in the opening complaining about been oh so rich and bored. The next 55 minutes is certainly anything but boring.For starters, they become involved with mystery girl Virginia Field who is being chased a la The 39 Steps by alleged Scotland Yard detectives. Beleaguered saxophonist Willie Best gets the ride of his life when picked up by Niven and Treacher who end up being chased by the men following Field, creating more comical adventure. There's a hysterical sequence with Best playing his sax and Treacher dancing, unaware that there's a trap door underneath them. This is a fun adaption of P.G. Wodehouse's series of stories, later adapted for several plays and an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. This version is delightfully witty, often over the top and filled with plenty of surprises.

He only gets third billing (behind Arthur Treacher & Virginia Field), but this was effectively David Niven's first starring role and he's charmingly silly as P. G. Wodehouse's dunderheaded Bertie Wooster, master (in name only) to Jeeves, that most unflappable of valets. As an adaptation, it's more like a watered-down THE 39 STEPS than a true Wodehousian outing. And that's too bad since the interplay between Treacher & Niven isn't too far off the mark. Alas, the 'B' movie mystery tropes & forced comedy grow wearisome even at a brief 57 minutes. Next year's follow-up (STEP LIVELY, JEEVES) was even more off the mark, with no Bertie in sight and Jeeves (of all people!) forced to play the goof.

When muddleheaded Bertie Wooster - London playboy & man about town - gets himself into trouble, he can always rely on the inimitable Jeeves, his gentleman's gentleman, to extricate him from the plight. When Bertie becomes involved with a beautiful mystery woman, Jeeves must utilize brawn, not brain, to rescue him from a dangerous gang of international thieves. Hopefully, Wooster will once again be able to say, `THANK YOU, JEEVES!'Very loosely based on one of his novels, Sir P. G. Wodehouse's immortal characters come alive in this, the first of two Jeeves films produced by 20th Century Fox. At only 57 minutes long, the film wastes no time in getting into its funny business. Fans of the short stories & novels will notice that liberties were taken with the characters. Jeeves is less of the all-knowing automaton; in fact, he uses not his cerebral matter but a knowledge of fisticuffs to catch the villains. Bertie is still rather zany, but his (eventual) success with the fair sex has noticeably improved.Having played butlers so often, Arthur Treacher here has the plum role of his career. He is perfect as Jeeves: tall, with forbidding intellect - but not afraid to unbend and sing a rousing hunting song or swing a mean battle-ax. David Niven is a lot of fun as Wooster, vague & a bit befuddled, but loyal & brave in defending his lady love. She is played nicely by Virginia Field. Willie Best has some very funny moments as a stranded saxophonist who adds to the hilarity.

Arthur Treacher and David Niven were terrific in the first big-screen adaptation of P.G. Wodehouse's classic comedy series. As a lifelong Wodehouse fan, I only wish there were more Jeeves & Bertie movies with those two. (The 80s BBC series comes close.) Both were exceptionally funny, although in "Thank You Jeeves" Niven's talents were pretty much wasted in favor of Treacher's. By the way, check out Arthur Treacher's appearance in two 1964 episodes of "The Beverly Hillbillies." He's a riot!