Don't Leave Home

Johnny Hines flies in from Chicago early to surprise wife Doris Phillips and their infant. Meanwhile, Miss Phillips is preparing to take the baby with her to see Hines in Chicago. When he arrives home, there's a note that she's left, so Hines takes the baby to a hotel, setting off the usual series of misunderstanding.

Hines is pretty good in his scenes with Jimmy Finlayson - who isn't? - and he's gentle and natural and amusing with the baby. Everyone is still feeling their ways into what short comedy would be in the sound era, but this has enough moments of fun to maintain interest.

When this comedy short begins, a husband leaves his business trip early in order to surprise his wife. It seems the guy is really homesick and longs to see his devoted wife and baby. At the same time, the wife is packing to go to visit the husband! To make things worse, a cabbie (James Finlayson) and the mother-in-law tell them both that spouses cannot be trusted. And so, when the hubby arrives home, he finds a note from the wife and he misinterprets it....and finds the baby alone. So, he takes the baby with him. Soon, the wife returns and finds the baby missing and assumes it was kidnapped! Soon chaos results and you'll have to see the short to find out how it all works out...or doesn't.

While this film is NOT especially subtle in its message, it's a pretty good comedy short. I enjoyed seeing familiar character actors Finlayson as well as Snub Pollard (as a porter). However, as there is a very silly blackface scene near the end, I am doubtful if many people will end up seeing the film. Yes, I am sure it will offend some folks...and blackface went out of style (fortunately) decades ago...but the film STILL is well worth seeing if you could use a laugh.