To Heir Is Human

To Heir Is Human (1944)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Silent film legend Harry Langdon stars in this short as a man who inherits some money but before he can collect it he must fight his way through a creepy dark house. Una Merkel co-stars in this Columbia short, which has some pretty good laughs including a very funny bit involving an electrical bed. This is the first time I've seen Langdon, although I've got three of his silents sitting here. He was pretty impressive here but I'm expecting more from his silents.

As of now the only way to see this short is through collectors and traders.

Una Merkel locates Harry Langdon, heir to a fortune and a mansion. However, relatives Christine MacIntyre, Lew Kelly and Eddie Gribbon have other ideas for the estate in this Columbia comedy short.

This one seems to have a larger budget than most in the unit; for one thing, it has incidental music. Producer Hugh McCollum always seemed to get more out of his movies than Jules White, probably because he let his talent have their heads. In this one, although it's Langdon's series, it's Una Merkel who gets to run through most of the slapstick gags -- Harry would turn 60 the year this was made, and die before it was over. It's Kelly and MacIntyre who get the best laughs, however, as two of the creepy would-be murderers.

The result is a typical-looking production for Jules White's unit, with many of the standard gags, aided by Harry's slow-reacting character. He plays well with Una, but nothing came of it in the long run: just another paycheck for some real talent, who did the gags and moved on to the next job.

Lots of of belly laughs in this comedy, with Una Merkel shining as the slapstick comedienne. Langdon's comic abilities seem unabated. The gestures, and the physical endurance are still there. As I review his sound comedies, I see him filling out his roles with unexpected skill. With less comic material to execute here, his acting fills-in and keeps it interesting. Una Merkel gets some great bits, and I find myself wanting more.

Late in his career, Harry Langdon found himself where quite a few down and out comedians (such as Buster Keaton and Charley Chase) found himself at Columbia Pictures making short films. These newer shorts weren't the least bit subtle or clever like the films he made in his heyday....but it was work. And, "To Heir is Human" was made the same year Harry died of a Cerebral Hemorrhage.

Una (Una Merkel) learns that if she can locate the heir to an estate, she'll earn $1000. Almost immediately, she spots Harry Fenner (Harry Langdon) and takes him to collect the money. What neither one realizes is that Harry's relatives all plan on murdering him...and they might as well kill Una while they're at it! Una fortunately overhears them and she and Harry try to escape this madhouse.

So it this any good? Well, like other Columbia shorts, it sure isn't subtle. But it does have a few laughs here and there and makes for a decent time passer...and not much more.

By the way, another down and out comedian makes a tiny cameo in this one. The janitor that Una knocks over was played the Snub Pollard, the Aussie who made quite a few lovely comedies with Buster Keaton back in the day. Here, without his painted on mustache, he's not so easy to recognize. He's not listed in the credits, but it's clearly Pollard.