Aired just now on TCM


This short was great. The actors nailed their parts in looks & performance. This is the kind of fare I would love to hear commentary on from the TCM historians or others in the film industry who have any info on how the real stars may have received this or the acting community.

You have the right to remain silent because whatever you say will probably be stupid anyway!

reply

I've never seen anything like this from the classic era, it obviously was made in New York with excellent stage actors, I don't think they would have dare done it in Hollywood lest the cast risk blacklisting LOL! I can't imagine anyone could possibly provide good commentary for this short as until very recently most of the cast's names were not known. I wonder if 1933 audiences got as much a kick out of the satire as latterday viewers given this type of sharp parody was pretty rare on film at the time.

reply

Yes, this short was wonderful! I like to think a few of the actors, Marie Dressler and Jean Harlow at the very least, would have loved the excellent parodies of their acting styles. Ah, those were the days, when films were fun and funny and could be great. I'm just a sucker for the 20's through the 30's film era and this short film is the perfect example of my reason why.

Something this wonderful would never be made today. I'm 55 and remember shorts and cartoons shown when my mom took a bunch of us kids to the movies. Now? Nothing but thirty minutes of ads and previews. We always arrive late to see a movie to avoid the in-your-face advertising. Thank goodness for TCM!

Human Rights: Know Them, Demand Them, Defend Them

reply