A cast of capable comic actors is largely wasted in this mechanically handled two-reel comedy.
There's certainly no lack of talent in front of or behind the camera. Not only did camera man Edward Cronjager have a sterling career (he was nominated for an Oscar seven times), but the actors include Roscoe Ates, Edgar Kennedy and Monte Collins in sizable roles, with Billy Gilbert and Billy Bletcher in bits. Yet all of them are annoying.
Part of the problem is that they each play their roles with no modulation (Ates plays two roles, separated twins, one of whom is a lawyer and the latter a wishy-washy junkman with his trademark stammer). Kennedy starts out furious and stays that way throughout, given no chance to act. Nor are the others granted more. Instead we get hard-knock gags, rendered for speed and using a lot of cutting and process work when a slower speed might have been better.
I lay the blame on director and co-screenwriter Harold Schwartz. This was the last of four shorts he directed. After this he retreated to production work, sometimes on fairly distinguished work. Judging by what is on the screen in this movie, he was better suited for less responsibility.
There's certainly no lack of talent in front of or behind the camera. Not only did camera man Edward Cronjager have a sterling career (he was nominated for an Oscar seven times), but the actors include Roscoe Ates, Edgar Kennedy and Monte Collins in sizable roles, with Billy Gilbert and Billy Bletcher in bits. Yet all of them are annoying.
Part of the problem is that they each play their roles with no modulation (Ates plays two roles, separated twins, one of whom is a lawyer and the latter a wishy-washy junkman with his trademark stammer). Kennedy starts out furious and stays that way throughout, given no chance to act. Nor are the others granted more. Instead we get hard-knock gags, rendered for speed and using a lot of cutting and process work when a slower speed might have been better.
I lay the blame on director and co-screenwriter Harold Schwartz. This was the last of four shorts he directed. After this he retreated to production work, sometimes on fairly distinguished work. Judging by what is on the screen in this movie, he was better suited for less responsibility.
