thav

The first time I seen this film, I literally laughed myself sick! This film is many, many different types of movies rolled into one. You can call is a mystery for the who done it, science fiction for the speak truth machine, crime drama for the gangster activity, musical for the songs, thriller for the spooky scenes in the dark, love story for the scenes between Bert Wheeler & Betty Grable and of course, a comedy. The only catagory it wouldn't fall in is a western. This film has all the elements of the true classic comedy. It has the classic slap-stick which is extinct now-a-days. The scenes w/ Arthur Treacher as the poor victim always encountering the boys on the steps is this rare extinct form of comedy . I love it when they throw his tennis balls and land right in the cop's mouths. The scenes toward the end are also great. It's especially funny when these poor colored chaps try to have their crap game and end up having the bejesus scared out of them. They end up being chased by everyone else. This film is non-stop fun and unlike modern films, it is completely free of foul language & sex. Only a little bit of mild violence which I wouldn't be afraid to show even to small children. This is a film that will make time fly. It is total fun from start to finish. I would recommend this film to everyone except those of who who have a bad heart; they may laugh themselves dead!

I actually thought this one was done in 1932, but that doesn't really matter. This has to be the best all time comedy short. We have here some of the very best actors & actresses of comedy from the silent years. Here we can finally hear them speak. I caught it about 15 years ago on TNT when it was a much better station not constantly showing that dog gone logo in the corner of the screen and managed to tape it. I have watched it 100's of times and never tire of it. Although many of the great old comedies has scenes that are politically incorrect which offends many these days w/ chips on their shoulders, but this one seems to be completely without. This one can never taken for real which seems to be the norm these days. This is total fun from start to finish. Starting out w/ some of the cool sappy dialogue leading into some great sight gags. Then we have the BEST pie fight I've ever seen and the great classic slap-stick of the Keystone Kops. It has all of the elements of the earlier Max Sennett silent comedies but w/ the sound, it ten times better. It may be only ten minutes in length, this short has more great belly laughs than any feature picture. See this one if you can. It may be available on tape or DVD; buy it if you can. It a classic & clean comedy from the days when we could laugh at something without foul language & sex as in today's films.

This is the earliest talking film I've ever seen. I've been a fan of Cantor for years and do indeed enjoy this film. Although a far cry from later talking pictures, it did present clear example in 1924 that talking pictures were just around the corner. Although somewhat crude, it does manage to entertain me and I'm sure much more so to the audiences 80 years ago. I think it should be presented more often today as a real pioneering film. Since he's not wearing his usual blackface, it shouldn't be too much of a problem these days to those of who who carry a chip on their shoulders about blackface acts. Other than Edison attempts of synchronizing recordings on wax cylinders to motion pictures & Max Fleischer's partnership w/ Dr. Lee DeForest presenting some talking cartoons, this has to be a first. Watch it if you can, it's real history.