[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    EmmysSuperheroes GuideSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideBest Of 2025 So FarDisability Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Things We Can Do Without

  • 1953
  • Approved
  • 9m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
139
YOUR RATING
ComedyShort

A Pete Smith Specialty shorts series entry. Dave demonstrates a variety of household items and furniture which, while modern, is much more trouble than the progress is worth.A Pete Smith Specialty shorts series entry. Dave demonstrates a variety of household items and furniture which, while modern, is much more trouble than the progress is worth.A Pete Smith Specialty shorts series entry. Dave demonstrates a variety of household items and furniture which, while modern, is much more trouble than the progress is worth.

  • Director
    • Dave O'Brien
  • Writers
    • Dave O'Brien
    • Joe Ansen
  • Stars
    • Pete Smith
    • Dave O'Brien
    • Dorothy Short
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    139
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Dave O'Brien
    • Writers
      • Dave O'Brien
      • Joe Ansen
    • Stars
      • Pete Smith
      • Dave O'Brien
      • Dorothy Short
    • 4User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Top cast3

    Edit
    Pete Smith
    Pete Smith
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    • (as a Smith Named Pete)
    Dave O'Brien
    Dave O'Brien
    • Thaddeus E. Thud III
    Dorothy Short
    Dorothy Short
    • Mrs. Thud
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Dave O'Brien
    • Writers
      • Dave O'Brien
      • Joe Ansen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews4

    5.7139
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    Michael_Elliott

    Lesser Smith short

    Things We Can Do Without (1951)

    ** (out of 4)

    Pete Smith short tells us what we use everyday yet might not really need. We get all sorts of slapstick comedy worked around an arm less chair, mechanical tables and various other items, which of course turn crazy and provide the laughs. There's some nice laughs here including a great sequence with a mirror.

    If you're interested in this or any other Pete Smith short then keep your eyes on Turner Classic Movies as they play their quite often. Most of the Smith shorts are worth viewing at least once.
    8gavin6942

    Classic Humorous Short!

    A Pete Smith Specialty shorts series entry. Dave demonstrates a variety of household items and furniture which, while modern, is much more trouble than the progress is worth.

    While only 9 minutes, this is a pretty spectacular little film if you like slapstick comedy. Taking the idea of inconvenient furniture to an extreme, Dave O'Brien falls over a lot, breaks things and at one point even flies through a wall. I love it.

    As the short goes on, it gets more extreme, which only makes it more funny. We get from a man falling over a lot to a convenience of actually having an old man stored in a wall so he could be taken out to play bridge. Weird stuff... and makes me wonder why no one plays bridge anymore.
    6Doylenf

    Dave O'Brien takes his share of pratfalls again...

    Another in a series of Pete Smith Specialties that has the energetic DAVE O'BRIEN demonstrating how not to deal with the inconveniences of modern conveniences, such as armless chairs, trays that come out from the wall, and desk drawers that are supposed to slide open at the magic touch.

    Actually, I expected more when I saw the title THINGS WE CAN DO WITHOUT but this short flies by swiftly with one sight gag after another, each time providing a chuckle to watch how skillfully O'Brien handles all the falls. One mishap has him even punching a hole in the wall when his chair rapidly goes backward as he tugs at a drawer.

    Amusing stuff--not one of the best of the series but fun to watch.

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Her uncredited role marked the last film appearance of Dorothy Short.

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ1

    • Is this available on DVD?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 5, 1953 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      9 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.