How to Watch Football

Robert Benchley turns on the radio to listen to Robert Benchley narrate the game; the scene shifts to Robert Benchley and Joyce Compton trying to find their seat at the game, surrounded by a crowd of people who are not Robert Benchley. They make it difficult for Robert Benchley to see the game. Occasionally Miss Compton asks one of the Robert Benchley she is with about the game. He explains things badly. She fails to understand.

Which is the essence of the Robert Benchley short: Benchley explains things badly. Usually it is the audience who is amused by this, but for anyone with has been to a sporting event -- with or without any number of Robert Benchleys -- it is a study in frustration.

The joy of watching football in comfort is apparently not what's in store for ROBERT BENCHLEY in this short that puts him and his girlfriend in the stands watching a game--make that trying to watch a game--while all sorts of rude annoyances surround them.

It starts with him sitting quietly in his own den listening to a game, then drifting off to sleep and imagining what it would be like to be there in the stands. Turns out it's more of a nightmare than a dream.

JOYCE COMPTON has a flair for playing the dumb blonde girlfriend but there are few real laughs to be had. An obnoxious drunken fan bothers Benchley while seated behind them, an overly exuberant fan keeps shoving against him, and the weather fails to cooperate when pouring rain puts an end to the game and the short.

Nothing much, hardly worth a watch.

Robert Benchley, who made a bunch of these short comedic pieces, goes to a football game. I guess the point is that if you go you are bullied, pushed, rained on, snarked at by your girlfriend, but really not allowed to pay attention to the game. There's some old football footage that has no connection to the plot other than to show they are in a football stadium. I guess people had a little more forgiveness for these empty little films then. I liked Robert Benchley, especially his writing, but this film does nothing for me.

How to Watch Football (1938)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Robert Benchley short has him taking a girlfriend to a football game where all sorts of troubles happen. Not only do they have to fight the crowd to get into the game but once inside they also must put up with an annoying drunk as well as bad seats. While this film has an overall good idea I can't say that the payoff was as good as it should have been so with that in mind I'd put this down as a middle-ground Benchley film. We are shown various situations in the movie but none of them really provide any laugh out loud moments. There are a few scenes that will put a smile on your face and most of these deal with the drunk. Eddie Acuff might be remembered by some film buffs and he too is on hand here as a yelling fan sitting next to Benchley.

Robert Benchley wrote this little gem, debatable as to whether he was a fan of the game or not? However, yes, he wrote the darn thing!

The clever trick; Robert is at home listening to a football game, and he's also the sportscaster. He gradually falls asleep and here we go.... Robert and his gal friend (none other than comedian Joyce Compton, who we all love) head out to the game for an exciting(?) afternoon.

Definitely, shades of Benchley's going to the movies -- with a few silly twists.

Let's start out with a LOUD guy next to him, played by Eddie Acuff, famous for all kind of annoying roles. NATURALLY... Joyce asks Robert to explain the game to her. Good luck with that one, and with other rambling fans all over the place making it one BIG happy family event???

Bottom line, if you've ever been to a football game, or any sporting event for that matter, BLANK does happen, and that's what Robert is attempting to convey in a lopsided, hilarious sort of way. One thing for certain, he was an inspiration to many stand-up comedians.

Joyce Compton, who appeared in several classics; BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, SORRY WRONG NUMBER, to name a few, is priceless. Just watching her makes you crack up.

Thank you to TCM for bringing these oldies out of retirement. On remastered dvd, box set containing Robert Benchley's other film shorts.