Why Daddy?

In his Last short subject for MGM, Robert Benchley is found listening a quiz show on the radio with his wife Ruth Lee. He gets the two questions asked correct, and the Mrs. Says he should go on. We next see him on a quiz show, pitted against ten-year-old Richard Hall, who proceeds to mop the floor with Benchley.

It's certainly not the best of the Benchley shorts, although it has its moments and does not outstay its welcome. Overall it seems more contemptuous than humorous. I suspect Benchley was growing tired of the grind of turning these out to gradually decreasing effect. He once said that it took him fifteen years to discover he had no talent for writing, but by then he was too famous to give it up. I suspect it was a wry reflection of how he saw things. He died the following year at the age of 56.

Armchair intellect Robert Benchley (as Joseph A. Doakes) is successful answering radio quiz show questions at home. He is urged to go "on the air" for real, by wife Ruth Lee. Anticipating he will clean up with winnings, Mr. Benchley goes on a "child versus adult" program called "Why Daddy?", hosted by Fred Brady. There, Benchley is pitted against little Richard "Dickie" Hall. And, wouldn't you know it, the tyke (un)expectedly, shows up the learned Benchley! - This short sitcom isn't all that amusing; but, Benchley's performance suggest he might have given Gale Gordon some competition, had he lived into the television age.

*** Why Daddy? (5/20/44) Will Jason ~ Robert Benchley, Fred Brady, Richard Hall

Benchley's last short for M-G-M doesn't exactly cover him with comedic glory, but it's certainly amusing enough in its own lightweight fashion to hold even the most impatient viewer's attention for ten minutes. Benchley is much his usual self, and it's good to see Fred Brady (a talented actor that for some reason M-G-M failed to exploit despite the wartime shortage of male stars) lending his agreeable personality to the role of quiz-master.

As might be expected, the writers take a fair swipe at one of Hollywood's favorite targets, commercial radio, and although it's by no means novel, one must admit the male soprano trio's singing of the outrageous theme lyrics for Wheero's Sea-Weed Bread does have a familiar if delightfully snide ring to it.

As also might be expected from M-G-M, credits, including photography by Walter Lundin of all people (he worked on nearly all Harold Lloyd's movies), are highly competent but blandly uninventive.

Why Daddy? (1944)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Robert Benchley short has him playing Joseph A. Doakes, an intelligent man who sits at home night after night answering all the questions right on a radio quiz show. His wife finally makes him go on one of the shows where he eventually gets embarrassed by a young boy (Richard Hall). This here turned out to be Benchley's final short for MGM and while it isn't among his best work it does manage to be entertaining and charming for its 9-minute running time. Benchley does a very good job with his role of Doakes, which he played in a few films before this one. The stern, stuck up attitude is perfectly captured by the actor. There really aren't any major laughs but there's enough charm here to make this worth watching.

It used to be that the studios were obligated to round out an evening's entertainment at the moviehouse by providing a few shorts to surround the main "feature."

Some of these were experimental because they were cheap and patron feedback was efficient. Most had some continuing thread, be it persistent characters in cartoons or a continuing story in serials. Into this opportunity Benchley inserted himself, writing and performing in about 80 skits.

He would die the following year.

Nearly all of his projects poked fun at movies or allied media. In this case it is a movie of a joke radio show set up to make a fool of the man. Its what he was best at. I don't think he is very funny when he is the target, but the cumulative effect over years must have been amusing. The one funny bit here is the three guys singing a soprano jingle.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.