In addition to the Three Stooges, Columbia Pictures also hired a lot of other comics for their short films of the 1930s-50s. In particular, they had a habit of hiring down-and-out actors well after their careers had stagnated...such as Harry Langdon, Charley Chase and, in this case, Hugh Herbert.

The story begins at the local newspaper where Herbert works. He's 'Aunt Fanny', a Dear Abby-type advice columnist who works for a very grouchy guy...who soon fires him. The grouchy boss is shocked just a bit later when he learns that the unknown criminal genius, Dave the Drip, looks EXACTLY like Herbert. After publishing an article with Dave's photo, everyone Herbert sees thinks he's a dangerous character. So what happens when the real Dave the Drip shows up?

Having Hugh Herbert in this role was a good idea. He was a good choice to play a mousy man mistaken for a vicious criminal. The results, while far from brilliant, are pleasant and enjoyable. And, like all the Columbia shorts, you can hear a lot of sound effects that are familiar for the Stooge's shorts.

The slapstick comedy subgenre, a term that originates from a type of wooden paddle with a hinged flap that was used in early comedic performances to create slapping noises during comedic actions, is a form of physical comedy characterized by exaggerated, boisterous, and often absurd actions, situations, and physical interactions. Slapstick humor relies on visual gags, physical stunts, and exaggerated movements to create laughs.

Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

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.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

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.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

Hugh Herbert, a very timid man, is the writer of a newspaper's "Advice to the Lovelorn" column using the pseudonym of "Aunt Fanny." Things start to pop when "woo-woo" Hugh is mistaken for the town's number one gangster.

Hugh Herbert, Dudley Dickerson, Henry Kulky, Del Lord, Hugh McCollum, Christine McIntyre, Jack Rice, and Emmett Vogan in Super Wolf (1949)

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Super Wolf

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