A Doggone Mixup

Harry Langdon is an odd comedian to categorize. During the silent years, he made quite a few sweet little comedies. However, instead of sticking with this excellent formula, he left his studio and director (Frank Capra) and ventured out on his own. Then, with studios like Hal Roach, Educational and Columbia, he made a bunch of movies that simply weren't all that funny. Why? Because he no longer was playing the same sweet, lovable guy...but played a broader character who no longer was subtle nor particularly endearing.

Of all the Columbia Pictures shorts Langdon made, "A Doggone Mixup" is probably among his best...which is pretty sad, since the film is only okay....nothing more.

Harry plays a guy who cannot say no to any sales pitch. Soon he finds himself with a dog collar...though he has no dog. Then, he has a dog house....but again, no dog. Finally someone convinces him to get a dog and he comes home with an ill behaved St. Bernard and the wife responds by bonking Harry on the head (the height of sophistication). Can the dog somehow redeem himself?

Aside from having few laughs, this is a pleasant enough story. Not brilliant in any way...but pleasant. Not exactly a glowing endorsement, I know.

Harry buys a dog who causes distress for him and his wife. The first problem is that the premise of the film is not funny. On our first screening, the group I saw this film with felt the story was sad. The next problem is seeing Harry Langdon with a mustache. Columbia was trying to change his image, but it doesn't work. Harry still plays it child-like. Later on, when glasses were added to Langdon's physical presentation, he looked befuddled. This worked better for him. The direction from Charles Lamont is slow and humorless. This type of thing might have been better in the hands of Jules White or Del Lord. They knew how to take "comedy of frustration" situations and make them care free and funny. Lamont did much better work later on with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.