Playboy Number One

The American Slapstick Volume 2 is a nice set of lesser known comedies. Oddly, in addition to many great slapstick era films, there are three sound comedies that all have the common thread of not being particularly funny. Instead of physical humor, the three films are much more vocal in style--and why they would put these in a slapstick collection is beyond me!

This particular short is about an annoying French professor who is a moocher. He's on a cruise and becomes friends with a couple of Chicago gangsters. In passing, the Professor says how the cruise has been a disappointment because he's so unlucky in love. One of the gangsters insists that the professor's problem is that he takes 'no' for an answer--he needs to be persistent with "dames". Well, it just so happens the lady in question happens to be the wife of the gangster. Later, there's an inevitable but unfunny confrontation. The film then ends very abruptly--as if perhaps part of the original film is missing. But, considering it's been so unfunny, who cares?! Unfunny, not particularly acted well and unsatisfying. If you want to see an early and GOOD sound comedy, try one of Stan and Ollie's--your brain will be glad you made that choice instead.