. . . this 9-minute short probably could have half of America in stitches even today. Since 50% of the eight-person on-screen cast is uncredited here, it is kind of pointless to say which character or actor is "guilty" of what. Each of the four skits involves two people: 1)a private eye returning home to manhandle his wife like one of the dames he runs across at work, 2)a father and son switching roles at bedtime (this bit goes NOWHERE), 3)a guy at a men's hat shop "acting like a woman" (extremely sexist), 4)and a "pregnant" guy (no baby-bump shown) foisting all the alleged "whims" of expecting moms on his businesswoman family bread-winning wife (who vows to "limit" him to "only" one box of cigars per day during his "pregnancy"). As you may suspect, skits #2 and #4 are not very funny, as the former is short and undeveloped, while the latter pulls its punches. While more violent, skits #1 and #3 are likelier to provoke knee-slapping hilarity among that portion of America stuck in the "Good Old Days."
3 Reviews
What If
boblipton3 January 2010
I love the Pete Smith specialties from MGM. His snarky narration adds immeasurably to any comedy. You might not feel that way, and so find this simply a collection of old-fashioned blackout gags.
In this one we go through a bunch of assumptions and get Dave Barclay doing his fine comic takes and falls.
The assumptions are that men come home and greet their wives like they do in film noir movies; that parents and children reversed roles, that men chose hats the way women did and that men were the ones who had the babies. The second is the weakest of the lot, but they all have their moments.
In this one we go through a bunch of assumptions and get Dave Barclay doing his fine comic takes and falls.
The assumptions are that men come home and greet their wives like they do in film noir movies; that parents and children reversed roles, that men chose hats the way women did and that men were the ones who had the babies. The second is the weakest of the lot, but they all have their moments.
Another Nice O'Brien/Smith Short
Michael_Elliott15 January 2010
Just Suppose (1948)
*** (out of 4)
Just suppose who came home to greet your wife the way detectives do in a film noir. Just suppose men selected their hats the same way women their dresses. Just suppose men were the ones who had babies. And just suppose the roles of parents were switched with their kids. Those four supposes are the comedy stories in this Pete Smith short that once again features Dave O'Brien as the bumbling fool who is constantly getting himself in trouble. The best of the four stories is without question the first one with the husband coming home acting tough and cool but he has a rude awakening coming. The one with the parents and kids roles reversed was also quite funny with O'Brien really shining here. The one I didn't care too much for what the hat as I felt this one went on way too long and never really had any good laughs. As usual we have Smith delivering very funny narration but a lot of credit has to go to O'Brien and his comic timing as an actor.
*** (out of 4)
Just suppose who came home to greet your wife the way detectives do in a film noir. Just suppose men selected their hats the same way women their dresses. Just suppose men were the ones who had babies. And just suppose the roles of parents were switched with their kids. Those four supposes are the comedy stories in this Pete Smith short that once again features Dave O'Brien as the bumbling fool who is constantly getting himself in trouble. The best of the four stories is without question the first one with the husband coming home acting tough and cool but he has a rude awakening coming. The one with the parents and kids roles reversed was also quite funny with O'Brien really shining here. The one I didn't care too much for what the hat as I felt this one went on way too long and never really had any good laughs. As usual we have Smith delivering very funny narration but a lot of credit has to go to O'Brien and his comic timing as an actor.
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