So You Want to Be in Pictures

Of the McDoakes shorts I have seen thus far, I thought this one especially good. This time around Joe is an aspiring actor who practices being an actor by listening to records of Ronald Colman and Charles Boyer impersonations ("If I were king," and "Hedy, Hedy come with me to the Casbah"). Joe gets a call from the studio telling him he has a small part (one line) in a World War I drama. Arriving at the studio he first asks Jack Carter for directions and then asks the actor who plays McDoakes, George O'Hanlon. A number of young Warner's contract players are introduced and they wave at the camera. After meeting the director (named Anguish) Joe delivers his one line - first in a crummy Boyer accent and then in a crummy Coleman accent. The director storms out and the assistant director takes over and after 88 takes he shows Anguish the final takes. How the assistant director handles Joe and his one line was hilarious - worth watching the whole short just for that. The final scene was also good. This McDoakes entertains from beginning to end.

So You Want to Be in Pictures (1947)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Oscar nominated short shows the down side of trying to become a big movie star. There really aren't too many laughs here but lead Joe McDoakes is fun to watch. Ronald Reagon has a small cameo.

So You Want to Be on the Radio (1948)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Oscar nominated short with Joe McDoakes as he plays a husband who wishes he could get on a radio game show but once he does get there he wishes he didn't. I know these "So You Want to Be..." shorts are pretty popular but the four I've seen really haven't worked. They're mildly entertaining but they really don't contain too many laughs for me.

Joe MacDoakes wants to be an actor -- at this point in many of my reviews say "in the worst way" and then something about how bad he is -- but when he gets his chance in a tiny speaking part, he does it as Ronald Colman, Charles Boyer..... causing the director no end of anguish.

It's more elaborate than most of the Joe MacDoakes series of short comedies, in that it makes use of non-regulars, former and current stars, in an effort at publicity; Jack Carson has a very funny bit, and George O'Hanlon appears not only as Joe, but as himself.

This particular Joe McDoakes short subject was obviously inspired by the all star Warner Brothers spectacular Thank Your Lucky Stars, one of those all star wartime morale boosters of the period. In that one Eddie Cantor played both himself and a would be comedian who'd like to break into films except for his resemblance to Cantor.

George O'Hanlon who starred in the McDoakes shorts is both himself and McDoakes who's just trying to get a break in film. Like Thank Your Lucky Stars a few Warner Brothers contract players with a free moment strolled through this film.

O'Hanlon's been sent by central casting for a small one line role in a World War I film, but lookalike McDoakes gets the message. The poor guy is so nervous about his big moment, he starts thinking of ways to deliver his one line. Maybe sounding like a real movie star would help.

86 takes later to the exasperation of director Ralph Sanford and the patient Clyde Cook who plays a British cockney soldier they do find a niche in the film business for poor McDoakes. It's worth seeing this very funny short subject which was nominated for an Oscar to find out what happens to O'Hanlon/McDoakes.

Both of them.

I usually like the Joe McDoakes comedy series "So You Want To...", etc., but this one takes the cake for carrying absurdity to the extreme.

It's one thing to spoof show business and the workings of Hollywood's movie factories, but to present McDoakes as a wanna be actor who makes life hellish for director Anthony Anguish (does every director have to be an impersonation of Michael Curtiz???), and have him do it in such absurd ways is more than a little exasperating.

His chance to play a messenger role is ruined when he insists on sounding like either Charles Boyer or Ronald Colman.

Making the whole mess worthwhile are a few glimpses of real stars--Ronald Reagan, Jack Carson, Alexis Smith, Wayne Morris, Robert Hutton, Martha Vickers and Janis Paige. But the comedy is insufferably broad and repetitious. Thumbs down on this one.

I couldn't find it genuinely amusing, not even the pie in the face ending. But don't mind me. It was nominated for a Best Short Subject Oscar but didn't win.