Cavalcade of Comedy

In the 1930s, as Hollywood entered the era of talking pictures, studios such as Paramount began to tap into the talent that populated the vaudeville stages across the United States. The film industry, of course, killed vaudeville as surely as TV killed radio, but at least some of the major vaudeville players made the transition to the big screen. This video collects eight Paramount comedy shorts produced between 1929 and 1931; short films that showcase talent such as Burns & Allen, Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor, Smith & Dale, George Jessel, Tom Howard, Chester Conklin and Mack Swain. The best of the bunch are the two Burns & Allen shorts, Fit To Be Tied and 100% Service and Tom Howard's The African Dodger. Gracie Allen was so bizarre; George Burns was such a clever straight man--their routines will live forever. The African Dodger is terribly sly and amusing as well. The team of Smith & Dale, straight from Yiddish theatre, were super clever but aren't well remembered today. The turkey here is Jessel's It Might Be Worse (I don't know how this bit could have been worse). Recommended for those who treasure the early film work of Burns & Allen and Jack Benny and for vaudeville aficionados. Two other programs in the Hollywood on Parade series are also available: Studio Snapshots and Robert Benchley and the Knights of the Roundtable. Aud: C, P. (P. Van Vleck)