Little Miss Pinkerton

MGM has some odd ideas as to what makes amusing kid-based entertainment. The idea of the kids being amateur sleuths has made fodder for better Roach-era entries, but in this case, all it does is get them kidnapped by two dopey criminals who keep threatening to kill them. This isn't THAT unlikely, as they cold-bloodedly shot their kindly janitor friend within the first four minutes of the short.

The kids do practically nothing through the short except cower in fear while Janet does her best to try to save them. (Though I wouldn't trust Janet to save her pocket change.) Meanwhile what meager laughs in the short there are are provided by veteran character actor Jack Norman and his ultra-stupid henchman. Also in the short is Robert Emmet O'Connor, as the police chief who won't believe Janet. You may remember him as the cop who the Marx Brothers torment in the hotel room in "A Night At The Opera." After this short, you may prefer to remember him that way.