Probably the Weakest of the Zasu/Todd Shorts

War Mamas (1931)

* 1/2 (out of 4) 

Extremely weak entry in the Zasu Pitts/Thelma Todd series has the girls volunteering to help during WW1 but they keep getting in trouble with the woman in charge of them. The second half of the short has the girls driving the wrong way and ending up behind German lines where they end up playing strip poker with a couple German captains. WAR MAMAS is a pretty bad film but thankfully it's so bad and so poorly directed that fans of bad movies will probably find it surreal enough to make it worth wasting 20-minutes on. There's not a single frame that's funny in this picture and the poker sequence is stretched out so long that you can't help but become annoyed with everything going on. Zasu, as you'd expect, keeps cheating at the cards but the Germans are too dumb to catch on. Now, if you were going to have a strip poker scene with Thelma Todd don't you think you'd want to show her off a little bit? That's doesn't happen here during a strip poker sequence even though every other short did manage to show her off. Director Marshall Neilan doesn't appear to know how to stage a scene as the timing is all over the place and none of the shots even appear to have been set up very well. Just check out a scene where the girls accidentally drop a glass pitcher out the window, which then hits their leader in the head. Both Pitts and Todd are obviously giving it their all but there simply isn't anything here that pays off.

The farce subgenre features exaggerated situations, slapstick humor, mistaken identities, and chaotic, rapid-fire events. Farces are known for their absurd and over-the-top comedic elements, often involving misunderstandings, physical comedy, and improbable scenarios.

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The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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The war genre features armed conflicts, both historical and fictional, and the experiences of individuals and groups involved in warfare. This genre explores the physical, emotional, and moral challenges faced by soldiers, civilians, and others affected by war.

During WW1, the girls become spies when they spend the evening with two German officers.

Zasu Pitts and Thelma Todd in War Mamas (1931)

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War Mamas

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