Bridge Wives

This short comedy is clever and very entertaining, with enough good turns and details that it remains just as enjoyable when watching it over again. Roscoe Arbuckle (directing under the pseudonym that he used when he was blacklisted) shows a sure touch in combining some of the best silent movie techniques with some resourceful sound-oriented gags.

Al St. John stars as a husband who loses his composure over a marathon bridge tournament that involves his wife. The first part follows a crucial portion of the game, which involves Fern Emmett, as St. John's wife, and Billy Bletcher, as a radio announcer. There are some very funny moments, and Bletcher is particularly good in parodying some of the habits of sports broadcasters. But the second part of the movie, which is dominated by St. John as his character finally snaps, is even funnier.

Arbuckle certainly knew St. John well, from their family relationship and from their many movies together, and here he manages to bring out the best in him. The last few minutes of this feature might just be St. John's best comic performance, as his character is increasingly frenzied, yet with a bizarre sense of purpose. It's combined with the continued off-screen commentary by Bletcher as the announcer, and at times the two are harmonized in some very clever ways. Emmett also has some amusing reactions to St. John's antics.

Arbuckle, the writers, and the cast all deserve a lot of credit. This feature has very good pacing and timing, which were both relatively rare in the first few years of sound pictures. Arbuckle uses a lot of silent movie-style gags, making them work nicely in the sound format, and he adds a number of new ideas as well. "Bridge Wives" is a light but very funny comedy.

He screams, he rants, he pulls at his hair, he throws a radio through a wall and dives after it. For Al St. John this is underacting. He was one of the best fall takers in the industry, ranking with Buster Keaton and Lupino Lane, but his idea of acting was to behave like an agile toddler throwing a tantrum. After looking at a sizable portion of his more than two hundred movies over the forty years he spent in the industry, from BANGVILLE POLICE in 1913 to THE BLACK LASH in 1952 -- comic sidekick to Lash LaRue (Yes, there was an actor who went by that name) -- I must say that it's also pretty funny for once, because what is he screaming, ranting etc. about? His wife has been playing contract bridge for three months and the dirty dishes are piling up.

This is a very well-made comedy short, directed by Al's uncle, Roscoe Arbuckle under his pseudonym of William Goodrich. The gags are well done and the editing is also carefully handled. Although I strongly dislike Mr. St. John's performances, this is one funny short.

The comedy short 'Bridge Wives' was made in the early 1930s, when American households (especially the women) were in the throes of a nationwide craze for contract bridge. The fad inspired several other comedy films during this same period, including Loretta Young's 'Grand Slam' and Leon Errol's hilarious 'Honeymoon Bridge'.

Previous IMDb poster Bob Lipton has synopsised 'Bridge Wives' accurately: Al's wife is a bridge addict, and poor Al has a case of the fantods while his wife bids six no trumps. However, I disagree with Mr Lipton's opinion of Al St John's comedic abilities. St John (nephew of Roscoe Arbuckle) was a nimble acrobat with a fine line in pratfalls and rubber-faced reactions, very nearly (but not quite) the equal of Buster Keaton and Lupino Lane in acrobatic proficiency, and also very nearly their equal in hilarity.

Besides being funny, 'Bridge Wives' is interesting for another reason. This film was directed by Roscoe Arbuckle during the period (following his acquittal on manslaughter charges) when Arbuckle was barred from appearing on screen. He directed 'Bridge Wives', and other films, under the name William Goodrich. A certain misconception about Arbuckle's pseudonym has been circulated many, many, MANY times ... so let me please correct it here once for all. Supposedly, Arbuckle's friend Buster Keaton suggested that Arbuckle should become a director under the name 'Will B. Good' ... and (also supposedly) Arbuckle, realising that the pun was a bit too obvious, changed it to the less blatant 'William B Goodrich'. That's a cute story (which I've seen published in at least fifteen different sources) but it's not true, except for one detail: Arbuckle and Keaton were both incorrigible punsters (who didn't need to be incorriged). Here's the truth: Roscoe Arbuckle's father was named William Goodrich Arbuckle. *After* Arbuckle chose 'William Goodrich' as his new alias, Keaton suggested he change it to 'William B Goodrich' ... but in fact Arbuckle never used that initial.

This being a 1932 film, there's some unintentional sexism. Al's character is upset because the dirty dishes have piled up (and he can't get a decent meal) while his wife plays a marathon bridge competition. Hey, mister husband: ever thought of washing your own dishes, and learning to cook?

'Bridge Wives' is very funny: a showcase for Al St John's talents (at a time when he was getting a bit too old for his former acrobatics) and a bittersweet reminder that Roscoe Arbuckle was still able to make people laugh during the dark days after the scandal that broke his career. Booming-voiced Billy Bletcher is good here in a supporting role. I'll rate 'Bridge Wives' 7 out of 10.