Name: Hawkins & Watkins Inc.
Genre: Short, Comedy
Released: 1932-07-08
Duration: 22 min
Rating: 5.5
Cast: Daphne Pollard, Forrester Harvey, Matt McHugh

Always Fun To See Charles Gemora In His Gorilla Suit

Wealthy Daphne Pollard acquires a cursed diamond. By the time things are over, two ex-Scotland Yard detectives are being driven by a gorilla on a motorcycle.

Mack Sennett short comedy studio did not deal well with the coming of sound. Although he embraced it enthusiastically, it put paid to his absurd style of comedy, with sound effects taking the place of the bizarre sight gags that were his stock in trade. Here, the progression of events involve Matt McHugh and Forrester Harvey adopting cockney accents, Walter Long as a fortune-telling butler, and Charles Gemora -- credited as "Sir Charles" in his gorilla costume. The pieces do not fit together well.

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 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 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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Beatrice De Vere (Daphne Pollard), a wealthy eccentric, owns a fabulous diamond that is coveted by others. Thusly begins a slapstick farce that involves two dumb New York , with cockney accents, a menacing butler who also tells fortunes, and a gorilla who drives a motorcycle and pilots an airplane.

Charles Gemora in Hawkins & Watkins Inc. (1932)

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Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Walter Long and Daphne Pollard in Hawkins & Watkins Inc. (1932)

Charles Gemora, Forrester Harvey, and Matt McHugh in Hawkins & Watkins Inc. (1932)

Hawkins & Watkins Inc.

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