Though he lacked the same visibility and recognition of some of his contemporaries, from the silent era and through the advent of talkies Harry Langdon was a noteworthy and important name in comedy. Whether starring in a feature himself or serving as a writer behind the scenes, not least with some of Laurel and Hardy's big hits, cinema owes a debt to Langdon that can't be repaid. Of course even the most reliable stars have a hard time churning out perfection time after time, but in at least some measure one can trust the icon to provide a good time. Thankfully 'House of errors' counts among those pictures that is fairly above average, and it's rather consistently delightful pretty much right from the start. We can him and haw about just how precisely worthwhile it is, but one way or another, if you're receptive to the sensibilities of older films and are looking for something light and merry, there's not really any going wrong here.
The Hays Code quite regrettably neutered Hollywood for a solid couple decades, and values have changed over time in a way that means some older flicks just don't land as well as they would have years ago. Happily, this is an example of a title that manages to circumvent the issues common to fare of the time, and it holds up relatively well, if not faultlessly. I'm not going to sit here and say it's utterly impeccable; facets like direction, cinematography, and editing are suitable, but sometimes arguably a tad rough around the edges. The fun relies in no small part on extra lighthearted and frivolous situational humor and gags, fast-talking, silver-tongued repartee, and animated, wild performances - which, yes, is just dandy, but one must resist the temptation to think about it all too much, or to approach the material with the modern mind for scrutinizing every nook and cranny of a script. No matter how cynical or jaded one might be about the movie, however, it wants only to entertain, and when you get right down to it 'House of errors' is never not amusing.
Everyone in the cast plays off each other very well, and between that rapport and the guidance of producer and director Bernard B. Ray, these sixty-four minutes maintain a steady clip. Even setting aside the comedy the story and scene writing are reasonably solid, and I appreciate elements like the sets, hair, makeup, stunts, and practical effects. Some of the sound effects and music cues are a bit overdone and tiresome, but I do like the music generally as it adds flavor. Mind you, it's also true that the feature doesn't maintain the same energy throughout its whole length, and just as some bits are stronger than others, some are weaker. Furthermore, while not outright sexist, the few female characters aren't treated as well in the screenplay as the men. However, again, 'House of errors' is built purely to let its audience forget their troubles for a little while. Eighty years later it may not elicit hearty laughs, but that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable on its own merits.
Even if you're a big fan of someone involved I don't think this is something one needs to go out of their way to see; it's no riotous exemplar. For something cheerful and uninvolved, though, the film is a fine little diversion for an hour, and a swell way to pass the time on a quiet day. 'House of errors' doesn't demand viewership, but if you do have the opportunity to watch, I think most folks will step away with a smile on their face - and for some pictures, that's enough.
The Hays Code quite regrettably neutered Hollywood for a solid couple decades, and values have changed over time in a way that means some older flicks just don't land as well as they would have years ago. Happily, this is an example of a title that manages to circumvent the issues common to fare of the time, and it holds up relatively well, if not faultlessly. I'm not going to sit here and say it's utterly impeccable; facets like direction, cinematography, and editing are suitable, but sometimes arguably a tad rough around the edges. The fun relies in no small part on extra lighthearted and frivolous situational humor and gags, fast-talking, silver-tongued repartee, and animated, wild performances - which, yes, is just dandy, but one must resist the temptation to think about it all too much, or to approach the material with the modern mind for scrutinizing every nook and cranny of a script. No matter how cynical or jaded one might be about the movie, however, it wants only to entertain, and when you get right down to it 'House of errors' is never not amusing.
Everyone in the cast plays off each other very well, and between that rapport and the guidance of producer and director Bernard B. Ray, these sixty-four minutes maintain a steady clip. Even setting aside the comedy the story and scene writing are reasonably solid, and I appreciate elements like the sets, hair, makeup, stunts, and practical effects. Some of the sound effects and music cues are a bit overdone and tiresome, but I do like the music generally as it adds flavor. Mind you, it's also true that the feature doesn't maintain the same energy throughout its whole length, and just as some bits are stronger than others, some are weaker. Furthermore, while not outright sexist, the few female characters aren't treated as well in the screenplay as the men. However, again, 'House of errors' is built purely to let its audience forget their troubles for a little while. Eighty years later it may not elicit hearty laughs, but that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable on its own merits.
Even if you're a big fan of someone involved I don't think this is something one needs to go out of their way to see; it's no riotous exemplar. For something cheerful and uninvolved, though, the film is a fine little diversion for an hour, and a swell way to pass the time on a quiet day. 'House of errors' doesn't demand viewership, but if you do have the opportunity to watch, I think most folks will step away with a smile on their face - and for some pictures, that's enough.