You Can't Win

A Smith called Pete narrates this Oscar-nominated short, directed and starring Dave O'Brien under two names.

It's very funny, but Pete sounds a bit off his feed in this one, supporting the action, rather than getting nasty about it, which is what fans of the Pete Smith Specials from MGM really wanted.

O'Brien had started out as a chorus boy, and went on to write, direct and star in all sorts of cheap productions, mostly westerns. When the B westerns started to dry up, he moved into comedy shorts for Pete Smith. When that ended in the mid-1950s, he became a gag writer for Red Skelton's TV show. He died in 1969, aged 57.

Maybe I am not the best person to watch and review this Pete Smith film because I so rarely enjoy them. While they did make a few really good ones, often Smith's narration comes off as annoying, heavy-handed and, well,...annoying! Is this one any better? And, should I keep torturing myself by watching them?

In this installment, Dave O'Brien once again acts in the short as Smith makes mostly inane comments. It's a shame, as sometimes the film is pretty funny (I loved the cigarette lighter bit). However, in others instead of real humor, Smith (who supervised all the films) inserted LOTS and LOTS of annoying and supposedly funny sound effects. This makes the film come off as very broad and irritating--so annoying even little kids would probably groan at them. Without Smith narrating and the dumb sound effects, the film would have been much more watchable. But, as it is, it's watchable but grating.

If you are interested in seeing this one, it's included as a special feature on the disc for "The Pirate". However, considering I thought "The Pirate" was one of the worst big-budget MGM musicals of the 1940s, I am not sure it's worth the effort.

You Can't Win (1948)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Oscar nominated short from Pete Smith about a couple guys who can't win at anything they do. This includes one guy who takes the day off work but can't get any rest due to door to door salesman. Another man keeps trying to wash his car only to have it get dirty minutes after finishing. There are a few nice laughs but not enough to make this one of Smith's better shorts.

If you're interested in seeing this then your best shot is during Turner Classic Movies "31 Days of Oscar".

I think if you ever saw Pete Smith coming towards you, then perhaps it'd be best to just cross the road because here nothing, absolutely nothing, goes the way it is supposed to for his foil commentary foil. Whether he is simply trying to avoid an insurance seller; or needs his lighter to work reliably; or is some fastidious chap who just wants his shirts perfectly starched, it's never simple. Perhaps it's the day you decide to wash your filthy car (wearing a white shirt!) whilst the road surface is riddled with lovely dirty puddles, or maybe you find an old hammock and decide it's time for that comfortable nap? Anyone ever tried to set one up, let alone get and stay in the thing? It's not one of Smith's best outings, this one - but there is still some fun to be had at the expense of this poor chap (Dave O'Brien) who most certainly isn't the luckiest or the brainiest!

I can't understand why anyone would gripe about watching this amusing MGM short with DAVE O'BRIEN shown trying to enjoy time off from work by relaxing or doing household chores. The other commentators must have gotten out of the wrong side of bed.

Whether he's washing his car (only to get mud from passing cars splashed all over it), avoiding an annoying salesman who wants to sell him accident insurance (and causes him to fall down the cellar stairs), or setting up a backyard hammock (which seems to have a mind of its own), O'Brien is never less than downright hilarious.

He does his pratfalls with the finesse of a natural athlete and how he avoids getting a broken back from some of these stunts is something I'll never understand.

Well worth its Oscar nomination for Best Short Subject in this Pete Smith series.