Despite being very old fashioned, it made me laugh a few times--and that's what 's important.

Willie and Eugene Howard were a couple vaudeville comedians from the 1920s. Fortunately, Vitaphone was experimenting with their early sound system (with a recorded disc playing in sync with the film) and so we have a preserved copy of their musical-comedy routine.

The film is very stage-bound--like so many of the Vitaphone shorts. It comes off like seeing the brothers on stage with no audience--no laughs and like another reviewer astutely pointed out, the film lacks a little something because of this. But it still has some very funny moments. Oddly, however, after some very nice humor, the pair break into song--rather operatic music. I was actually pretty impressed by the singing--while it's not the style I like, they had very impressive voices. Because of this, they must have been very much in demand in their day--having a variety of talents.

As far as a rating goes, it's very hard to give this a score. Historically, it is mega-important and preceded "The Jazz Singer" by a year. I think comparing it to other comedy shorts of the day (and there are not many), it is very good and worth your time if, like me, you are a big fan of early sound films.

Stand-up comedy is a form of comedic performance in which a comedian stands on stage and delivers a series of humorous monologues, anecdotes, jokes, and observational humor to entertain an audience. The comedian typically speaks directly to the audience, often addressing a wide range of topics including everyday life, personal experiences, social issues, and cultural observations.

John Mulaney in John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (2018)

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)

Credited as "The Howard Brothers", these two famous vaudevillians perform a signature stage routine.

Willie Howard and Eugene Howard in Between the Acts at the Opera (1926)

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood's perfect pairs.

Hollywood Power Couples

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood&#39;s perfect pairs.

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

The Howard Brothers in Between the Acts of the Opera

Between the Acts at the Opera

Photos4

Top Cast2

User reviews9

Related interests

Storyline

Did you know

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed