Flying Down to Zero

Clark and McCullough are insurance salesmen for Bud Jamison's company. They have to sell an insurance policy to Harry Gribbon, but he has no blood pressure. To get it up, they have Jamison's girlfriend, Constance Bergen, make love to him.

This was the next to last short that Clark & McCullough made. After that, they went on tour for the George White Scandals. Their frenetic style of comedy was so much, that McCullough took a rest, A barber slashed his throat in 1936, leading to his death at age 52. Clark made one more movie on his own a couple of years later, and settled into a long career on Broadway, dying at 71 in 1960.

"Flying Down to Zero" is one of Clark & McCullough's best films. Why? Because it has very little in the way of plot and is just nutty....which made it much more enjoyable than their other short.

The story begins with the boys tripping folks. Why? So they can get their attention and then sell them insurance policies! They accidentally do this to the man who owns the company (Bud Jamison). He's bad at first, but then gets them to help him get clients approved...even if they are in lousy health. Eddie Gribbon is their first, and he has no blood pressure at all...so it's their job to elevate it so he can pass the physical!

The film is simply non-stop...and if one gag doesn't work, they're soon on to the next. The frenetic pace is much like a Marx Brothers film....and I liked it.