How to Behave

Two men in a sewer get into an argument over how a gentleman is supposed to behave in various situations. So they phone up famous etiquette specialist Robert Benchley. He proceeds to explain in a manner that confuses even him.

Robert, humorist, Algonquin Hotel habituee, who wrote A TALE OF TWO CITIES before being buried at Westminster Abbey (as he noted in one of his autobiographical sketches) had been doing this sort of routine since he was at Harvard, helping to produce the Lampoon. He carried the act to Broadway, and in 1929 began to appear in sketches of a similar nature, explaining simple things in a bewildering manner. His HOW TO SLEEP won an Oscar in 1935. This one is typically great fun.

This MGM-Benchley short was the follow-up to the Academy Award Winning "How to Sleep". While the first film had a unifying theme, this film is a group of unrelated scenes that are lazily tied together with the theme "How to Behave". This short was early in the Benchley series and the right formula for the Benchley one-reeler hadn't been perfected yet. The shorts do get better as the series developed. Benchley is at his best addressing the audience in an embarrassed way. These one-reelers are the best opportunity to see what Benchley was all about. In features, he seems to get lost in supporting roles and his droll comedy is often overshadowed by the feature. These shorts are pure undiluted Benchley. This short is not bad, but I hope it is not the viewer's first exposure to Benchley.

Two workmen in a manhole discuss etiquette if a woman falls in. They call newspaper etiquette columnist Mr. Benchley to settle the dispute. He recounts various situations to the men. Robert Benchley is a humorist during his day. Non-physical comedy do not always transport well through time. I can see the ideas he's pushing but he's not a great performer. In the modern sense, he has a range between the persnickety banker to the frustrated high school principal.

Sewer workers discuss proper manners (naturally). They call etiquette columnist Robert Benchley and ask him. As he answers, we are shown examples of proper etiquette with amusing vignettes where everything that can go wrong does. Benchley is funny talking over himself and getting frustrated and the like. Several funny lines ("Maybe they've all been murdered in bed?"). One of the better Benchley shorts I've seen.

First, a salute to director Arthur Ripley, who founded the film department at the University of California. He inspired many artists, and to this day.

Second, Robert Benchley is insane. We love this guy!

"How to Behave" is basically "how to behave" when you LEAST expect it. Robert gets a call at his desk from two guys working in a manhole?

Question: What should these two men do IF and WHEN a woman falls into their hole???

First thing -- tip your hat? Wouldn't that be gentlemanly?

Couple of other wild points to be made by Benchley, such as how do you "behave" when you're invited to stay overnight at someone's house? Don't snore? The dialogue here is off the wall, just wild.

Enough material here for a full movie.

Catch the queen of movie extras, Bess Flowers, who regulalarly appeared with the THREE STOOGES, playing a party guest. She's usually the best dressed lady.

A gemstone. Always on dvd with other Benchley short films. Thank you TCM for running this golden oldie.