Framing Father

When a newspaper gossip column hints his son is seeing a night club entertainer, Leon's wife accuses the father of having an affair. Of course, Leon is in a panic at the social calamity of marrying some one in Show Business. Things spiral downhill for a while until everything is settled satisfactorily.

Of course, the purpose of these shorts is to show Leon's comic abilities, and this one shows them aplenty: his drunk act, his double takes and his ability to play a stuffed shirt without ceasing to be likable. This is not one of his best shorts, but there is plenty for fans of his work to laugh at.

Leon Errol made a string of shorts as well as full-length 'Mexican Spitfire' movies in the 1930s and 40s. Today, he's mostly forgotten....and with shorts like "Framing Father" it's a shame.

The film begins with Errol returning home later...and very drunk. Arriving a short time later is his son...who has been out at a local nightclub with a pretty singer. When the newspapers get wind of this, they print a story...and Leon's wife thinks they might be talking about him. But the son soon informs them he's marrying the girl...and Leon's wife announces she's divorcing him if this occurs! How can poor Leon get out of this predicament?!

Well written, enjoyable and worth seeing. Not exactly a brilliant film but a nice domestic comedy.