The Box (1969)
*** (out of 4)
Rather funny short opens with actor Michael Lombard carrying a box out from a store and we see him take it through the streets, up the stairs and into his room. Inside we learn that it's a television and as soon as he plugs it up the trouble begins. I guess I'd compare this to the work of French master Georges Melies as it's pretty much a trick film and a rather funny one at that. All sorts of bad things begin to happen including the television never working unless Lombard is looking away from it. Another funny gag deals with the remote control doing everything except what it's supposed to do. This includes turning lights off and on as well as flipping a bed. THE BOX is a pretty clever short clocking in at 10-minutes and it features a good number of laughs. I thought the editing was pretty good all things considered and the intro notes said that this was shot in one night on short ends that were given to the director. It's also noted for being actor John Cazale's only credit as cinematography. It's certainly not bad but lets all be thankfully he didn't take this up as a profession.
