The Brain Busters

Billy Gilbert and Vince Barnett moved over to the remnants of the Christie Brothers for a series of short subjects in which they played variations on Laurel & Hardy. Here, in this short subject, they get hired to run a used car lot and steal a car for James Morton.

Unhappily, while fine comic actors, they were no Laurel & Hardy and the attempts to direct the piece as if it were -- with a leisurely foreshadowing of what is to come -- hurts, as both are a bit too straightforward to give us the interesting grace notes that Stan and Ollie used to fill out the routines. Still, director Edwards does pace it well and the best, unexpected gag is left for the end.