While the Cat's Away

Director Lloyd French had spent a good many years at the Hal Roach studio, so it's hardly surprising to find that this Vitaphone short borrows extensively from from two Laurel & Hardy shorts -- HELPMATES and UNACCUSTOMED AS WE ARE. While Shemp Howard is, as always, Shemp Howard, Johnny Berkes' performance is clearly modeled on Stan Laurel. There's even Anita Garvin on hand.

As a Laurel & Hardy fan I find it a bit unnerving to see some of the routines reused, but Shemp, although best as a supporting comic, certainly knows how to handle rough-and-ready comedy. His means of mixing hair of the dog is funny and he certainly keeps busy. Berkes, in contrast, just walks through his role, careful not to get in anyone's way and waiting for the payoff gag. The result is a good if not stellar comedy.