Only Fitfully Funny, But See It for Jean Willes

This comedy short is a special feature on the DVD release of "If You Could Only Cook" (1935) and "Too Many Husbands" (1940), two minor comedies starring Jean Arthur.

It's included here no doubt because its plot so closely resembles that of "Too Many Husbands": two men receive notification that their wives were killed in service; the wives receive the same notifications about their husbands. The "surviving" spouses then marry each other, and comedy hijinks ensue when the two couples end up in the same hotel on their honeymoons.

The comedy in this film is of the mugging at the camera, slapstick variety, and not much of it is funny (let's just say some sight gags revolving around a fold-down bed are milked for about all they're worth and then some), but the film does have one thing to recommend it: a hilarious performance from Jean Willes as a short little blonde, who does some terrific physical comedy after her character gets schookered on whiskey.

There's also a kind of funny running gag that involves a strange woman walking across the screen every so often, saying "How dare you remind me of someone I hate?" and smacking Gus Schilling in the face.

The short is introduced and wrapped up by an actress dressed as a bird sitting in a cuckoo clock. The image is actually rather disturbing -- I couldn't stop thinking about Rene Auberjonois in "Brewster McCloud."

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.

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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 romance genre features the theme of romantic relationships and emotional connections between characters. These stories focus on the development of love, desire, and intimacy between protagonists, often exploring the challenges, conflicts, and triumphs that arise in their relationships.

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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 Schillings and the Lanes think their spouses have been killed in the war, and marry each other's mate.

Richard Lane, Gus Schilling, and Emil Sitka in Ain't Love Cuckoo? (1946)

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Ain't Love Cuckoo?

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