Hot Biskits

Hot Biskits (1931)

** (out of 4)

A man (Thurston Briggs) makes a bet on a mini-golf game but is convinced he has no shot at winning until his friend (Spencer Williams) says he has a way to rig it where the ball will go in the hole each time without an issue.

HOT BISKITS is a low-budget comedy from Dixie Comedies that clocks in at just ten-minutes. The film was actually Williams' first as a director, although it's strange that he wouldn't direct another film for ten years when he made THE BLOOD OF Jesus in 1941. As far as this short goes, there are a couple funny moments but for the most part it's pretty bland. It's certainly mildly entertaining thanks in large part to Briggs and Williams but the only laughs come from the rather silly scenes of the blood going all around the hole until it eventually pops in. Fans of these early race movies or fans of Williams should get some mild entertainment from this.

While today Spencer Williams is mostly forgotten or only remembered for his role as Andy Brown on the "Amos 'n Andy" television show, back in the 1930s and 40s, he was a very busy man in films. For example, in "Hot Biskits", Williams wrote, directed and co-starred in this short made for black cinemas in the USA. He also made a variety of other films...comedies, dramas, religious films and gangster movies where he would often play the heavy.

The film stars Thurston Briggs and this film is his sole film credit. I could find nothing more about him on the internet but assume he was a stage comic of the era. Regardless, the story finds him and Williams trying to win a miniature golf tournament through trickery and electronics. While this might seem pretty weird, during the 1920s and 30s, mini golf was a HUGE success in America and there were thousands of miniature golf courses in the country.

The golfing sequences in this film are simply ridiculous--especially when no one seems to think the tournament is fixed and the balls keep doing the strangest things...things that are strictly impossible. Do they win the contest? See the film to find out for yourself.

The idea of the film is cute...the execution a bit rough and low-brow. Not a terrible film and one worth seeing in order to see the sorts of pictures made for black audiences during the day.

The Plot: A man (Thurston Briggs) makes a bet on a mini-golf game but is convinced he has no shot at winning until his friend (Spencer Williams) says he has a way to rig it where the ball will go in the hole each time without an issue.

Another reviewer wrongly says that Spencer Williams was Andy from Amos & Andy in the 30's and 40's. He wasn't. Amos and Andy in on the radio were played by white guys who would be in blackface when they did live events!

When the series moved to television in the 1950's Spencer played the Andy character.

Anyway, this is an interesting movie although not all that great. It's more of a period piece from a time gone by. Capably directed and acted, but not much there.