Boogie Woogie

10 Stars for Robert Benchley, and in technicolor. This time two outrageous reels, running 17 minutes.

I have a hunch both Paramount Pictures and Benchley were trying for an Oscar nomination. Sure as heck shows. They throw every creative angle in this short comedy, a winner.

Good bet it was also inspired by Laurel & Hardy's looney semi-musical, JITTERBUGS, and for that matter, director Noel Madison (also an actor) appeared in that film too.

Benchley plays Frederick Stumplefinger (yes, he wrote the silly script), a proud and daring father who lets his kids go jitterbugging on a school night? Heaven forbid, and while his wife (Ann Shoemaker) is away for a few hours. The catch -- there's always one -- everything should go according to plan, providing Mrs. S does NOT come home early.

She comes home EARLY!

Now Stumplefinger has to enact Plan B; try to fool the wife and get the kids back into the house before she finds out. Can he do it?

Meanwhile, everyone is havin' a blast. Boogie Woogie the night away! I agree, plenty of acrobatic dancing to go around, featuring the Hollywood Jitterbugs, the official dancing sextette. If you love musical comedy (lots of comedy), you'll be addicted to this gem.

Wonderful cast; Ann Shoemaker, veteran of several film classics, child actor Darryl Hickman as Junior. Guest starring jitterbugger Roland Dupree, harmonica player Frank Cook, and whole bunch of other folks doing their thing. Look for Frank Faylen in a bit role as Mugs.

Even if it didn't win an Oscar, the crew had a time putting this show of shows together.

Thank you TCM for bringing Robert Benchley out of retirement. Remastered on dvd. Also double billed with MGM and Paramount feature films. Check Amazon for updates.

When his severe wife is away, Frederick Stumplefinger allows his children to go Jitterbugging on a school night. But when she surprises him by returning early, Frederick must battle the clock and two erudite bouncers to collect his kids before his wife arrives at home.

With a simple premise, this short packs a lot into it's runtime. Filled with fun musical numbers, quirky character work (especially from the two cerebral bouncers), plenty of acrobatic dancing and some slapstick moments, you could not find a more agreeable way to spend 17 minutes.

Frank Cook even pops up playing the exact same number from the Republic Picture film Village Barn Dance (1940). Only this time he is playing it on screen for one of the major studios.

In between all of the physical comedy, Robert Benchley even finds time to drop a few of his patented witticisms about marriage.