Walter Catlett Takes the Girl from Frankin Pangborn

Walter Catlett is the cousin to some squeaky voiced Dagwood Bumstead type who can't get a girl. Can he browbeat his cousin into swiping pretty girl from accomplished gunman, boxer, and horseman Franklin Pangborn (!?), or is that just DREAM STUFF? 

Right before his studio crashed and burned with the coming of the double feature and the phasing out of the two-reel comedy, Mack Sennett finally seemed to figure out sound comedy, with a series of shorts starring Bing Crosby, and an awesome quartet of shorts featuring W.C. Fields. This one, featuring character actor Walter Catlett, is certainly not of the level of the Fields shorts, but holds up fairly well. Why? Because Catlett in this one is a force of nature as he manufactures plots well calculated to get his somewhat doofy cousin the girl (and guaranteed to fluster the doofy cousin). The gags here are mostly funny. Pangborn make a great foil. And Catlett is truly wonderful as a benevolent despot, who, despite his wise scheming, can't avoid being the target for a couple of gooey pastries.

Worth seeing, as a vehicle for a fine comic actor who is usually seen in TCM movies in a supporting role. Makes one wonder what a starring feature with this actor would have looked like.

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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A bashful man in love with a blonde beauty enlists the help of his cousin for advice how to win her hand. Will the cousin's unorthodox advice get the girl?

Walter Catlett, Joyce Compton, Al Cooke, Franklin Pangborn, and Emerson Treacy in Dream Stuff (1933)

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Mack Sennett Studios - 1712 Glendale Blvd., Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California, USA

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