If there were ever two performers who deserved to find happiness in the after life, it was the comic team of Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly. Todd was murdered in one of Hollywood's most bizarre unsolved mysteries, while Kelly was a has-been before the age of 40 due to her open gay lifestyle and battle with the bottle that kept her unemployed in Hollywood for almost two decades. Praised in the 1930's as one of the funniest character women in films, Kelly replaced Zasu Pitts in a series of shorts she made with Todd for Hal Roach, and also was one of the most acclaimed comics in films, appearing at every major studio as the best pal to pretty much every big Hollywood star. While Todd ended up in the legends of Hollywood scandal, Kelly did make a huge come-back, returning to films and winning the hearts and laughter of audiences who were lucky enough to see her in her Tony winning Broadway performance in "No No Nanette". While she died only a decade later, her fame skyrocketed years afterwards as nostalgia crazy younger audiences discovered her comic genius through TCM and home video.
This short is delightfully silly, almost of a "Little Rascals"/"Our Gang" mentality with children obviously howling at the plight of both Todd and Kelly as they end up in the home of the loony Clarence Wilson who has created one of the goofiest looking robots ever to be seen on film. With Wilson behind the scenes guiding its every move, the robot (whom Kelly hysterically refers to as "Mr. Rowboat") attempts to play host to the two ladies, engaging Kelly in a contest of trying to flip silverware into a wine glass, pouring water over her head rather than into her glass, and chasing them all around the house when they discover that there's an escaped gangster hiding under the table. Kelly's brash nature is contrasted with Todd's pretty blonde who gets a few good cracks of her own. Having a long career in features as well, Todd had the potential of becoming another Harlow/Lombard, but unfortunately the only thing they had in common were pre-mature deaths. In retrospect, however, the three also seem to have a more modern presence than other actresses of the 1930's which makes their work seem totally fresh today.
Praise must also be given to the hammy performance of the hawk-faced Clarence Wilson, foe to the Little Rascals and W.C. Fields, as well as stingy bankers, shop keepers and process servers who stood in the way of the leading players finding happiness. He reads every line as if he was a dog devouring a huge steak, certainly the perfect way of playing such a character for a comedy short that doesn't even reach the length of a two-reeler. Because of the short running time, this does not wear out its welcome, and features plenty of laughs and action in a brief span. Hence the reason for me giving this an almost excellent rating, because its good hearted goofiness just makes it a pleasure from beginning to end.
This short is delightfully silly, almost of a "Little Rascals"/"Our Gang" mentality with children obviously howling at the plight of both Todd and Kelly as they end up in the home of the loony Clarence Wilson who has created one of the goofiest looking robots ever to be seen on film. With Wilson behind the scenes guiding its every move, the robot (whom Kelly hysterically refers to as "Mr. Rowboat") attempts to play host to the two ladies, engaging Kelly in a contest of trying to flip silverware into a wine glass, pouring water over her head rather than into her glass, and chasing them all around the house when they discover that there's an escaped gangster hiding under the table. Kelly's brash nature is contrasted with Todd's pretty blonde who gets a few good cracks of her own. Having a long career in features as well, Todd had the potential of becoming another Harlow/Lombard, but unfortunately the only thing they had in common were pre-mature deaths. In retrospect, however, the three also seem to have a more modern presence than other actresses of the 1930's which makes their work seem totally fresh today.
Praise must also be given to the hammy performance of the hawk-faced Clarence Wilson, foe to the Little Rascals and W.C. Fields, as well as stingy bankers, shop keepers and process servers who stood in the way of the leading players finding happiness. He reads every line as if he was a dog devouring a huge steak, certainly the perfect way of playing such a character for a comedy short that doesn't even reach the length of a two-reeler. Because of the short running time, this does not wear out its welcome, and features plenty of laughs and action in a brief span. Hence the reason for me giving this an almost excellent rating, because its good hearted goofiness just makes it a pleasure from beginning to end.