Close Relations

"Close Relations" is one of the six short comedies which comprise Roscoe Arbuckle's entire talking-film career. He's ably assisted in this film by Shemp Howard, the once and future Stooge, riding on a pogo stick.

The plot involves a rivalry between two branches of Arbuckle's family. Arbuckle's clan are named the Warts and the rival clan are named the Moles. Charles Judels, as Arbuckle's uncle, does a tasteless monologue in which he describes how to tell the difference between a Wart and a Mole.

Even after his long exile from the screen, Arbuckle's agility is amazing. In this film, he does a very funny pratfall routine with a concertina attached to his body. Very good use of sound effects here.

This film has a running gag featuring the punchline "Nuts!" which will probably baffle modern viewers. In the 1930s, the slang word "nuts!" was considered mildly obscene, and so it was a sure laugh-getter. (The Hays Office production code specifically banned the word "nuts!" from film scripts, unless it clearly referred to insanity.) Several films of the early '30s came up with contrived ways to get the word "nuts" past the censors: "Close Relations" is one such film; "Broadway Through a Keyhole" was another.

"Close Relations" is hilarious, except for that Wart-versus-Mole routine. The ending is unexpected, and quite funny. I'll rate this short 8 out of 10.

"Close Relations" is a very broad comedy and about as sophisticated and subtle as a stripper at a Baptist picnic! Unfortunately, this sort of mess of a comedy was pretty common towards the end of Fatty Arbuckle's life and the Vitaphone shorts he made were mostly a sad lot.

When the film begins, a grouchy old man with gout announces to his doctor that he wants all his living relatives to come visit so he can decide which member of the Wart family should inherit his fortune. One of them is Wilbur (Arbuckle) and we then see him at the train station getting into trouble with a real hot-headed guy...a guy who turns out to be another member of the Warts. When they arrive at the uncle's, lots of surprises...none of them funny...are in store.

The short just isn't funny. Instead, it's very dopey with the sort of humor 5 year-olds might like but not anyone much older or more sophisticated. A tiresome sort of film.

Close Relations (1933)

*** (out of 4)

Released after the death of Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, this comedy features him playing a man named Wilbur Wart who is invited by his rich uncle (Charles Judels) to stay the weekend. Once there he hopes to get in good for the will but Harry Wart (Harry Shannon) is also there and wants in on the action. This here was the fourth of six films that Arbuckle made for Vitaphone and it's certainly the best up to this point. There are a great number of laughs but the film is also a great throwback to the silent era when mistaken identity was something that could lead to many wonderful gags and especially many physical ones. The film manages to be quite funny from start to finish thanks in large part to the cast. Arbuckle really is at the top of his game here as he manages to be that charming person everyone loves but his physical side is also on full display. There are many moments where he's falling down or getting tripped up and it's rather amazing to see how well he could handle this at this point in his career. Shannon was also very good in his supporting bit and managed to have a great chemistry with Arbuckle. Judels is perfect as the uncle and even Mildred Van Dorn is good as the nurse. Look fast for Shemp Howard playing a "Mole." The running joke about "Warts" and "Moles" are a bit weird to say the least but they still manage to get a couple nice laughs. I'm not going to ruin the ending for anyone but it too is a winner. Fans of Arbuckle will certainly want to check this one out.

This was yet another funny talkie short starring Fatty Arbuckle. Here, he's visiting his uncle who's drawing up a new will. Both characters' last name is Wart. There's another long-lost cousin and also a family member with a last name of Mole. That one is played by Shemp Howard. Lots of crazy stuff happens so on that note, I recommend Close Relations.