The Affair of Susan

Susan and Dudley are two lonely people with boring jobs who pretend to their co-workers that they are socially involved. But Dudley plays solitaire in his apartment and Susan entertains her goldfish and plays records to pass the time. Then the weekend comes, and both are inspired to go to Coney Island to try and meet someone.

"The Affair Of Susan" is played for laughs and must have been a programmer back in the day - it is doubtful either of the principals could star in a headliner. Zasu Pitts is in her element here and carries the picture (and co-star Hugh O'Connell) in this frequently funny movie and gets a big boost from Walter Catlett as a third wheel who keeps following them around the park. There is also a very tuneful song which is sung at a casino and played in the background throughout the movie called "Something In My Heart", written by Franz Waxman and Yip Harburg. It is virtually forgotten today but shouldn't be.

In Universal's publicity for the picture they promise a "carnival of laughs" and a "side show of side-splitting hilarity", and it is quite funny, even if the plot is somewhat thin. It has entertainment value and a lot of innocent fun, which is in short supply nowadays. Shown at Capitolfest, Rome NY, 8/13, the film's first public screening in 78 years.