Late in his career, Harry Langdon found himself where quite a few down and out comedians (such as Buster Keaton and Charley Chase) found himself at Columbia Pictures making short films. These newer shorts weren't the least bit subtle or clever like the films he made in his heyday....but it was work. And, "To Heir is Human" was made the same year Harry died of a Cerebral Hemorrhage.
Una (Una Merkel) learns that if she can locate the heir to an estate, she'll earn $1000. Almost immediately, she spots Harry Fenner (Harry Langdon) and takes him to collect the money. What neither one realizes is that Harry's relatives all plan on murdering him...and they might as well kill Una while they're at it! Una fortunately overhears them and she and Harry try to escape this madhouse.
So it this any good? Well, like other Columbia shorts, it sure isn't subtle. But it does have a few laughs here and there and makes for a decent time passer...and not much more.
By the way, another down and out comedian makes a tiny cameo in this one. The janitor that Una knocks over was played the Snub Pollard, the Aussie who made quite a few lovely comedies with Buster Keaton back in the day. Here, without his painted on mustache, he's not so easy to recognize. He's not listed in the credits, but it's clearly Pollard.
