Don't Be Nervous

From the first series of "Lloyd Hamilton Talking Comedies" from 1929, this begins with a glee-club vocal sung by prisoners behind bars, behind the opening credits as they roll. I've seen a few shorts beginning with glee club vocals from 29-30--was this just to present "sound" of any sort since the novelty had not yet worn off? In any event, this is a Lloyd Hamilton classic. Gangster leader Nick the Sheik (Hamilton) is released from jail and manages to run into "collector of rare coins" Vernon Snodgrass (also Hamilton), who looks exactly like him. With the cops after Nick AND Nick's old girlfriend wanting to get the romance cooking, you can imagine the confusion that ensues. The dual role really allows Hamilton to shine, and this master physical comedian steals the show. Rita La Roy (as the gangster's girl) is very sexy, with her short 20's hair, as she tries to seduce Hamilton--if anyone has her 1930 feature PLAYTHINGS OF Hollywood, I'd love a copy! For a 1929 short, this moves well and is quite fluid. Obviously, director William Watson learned quickly how to compensate for the drawbacks of sound recording technology. Definitely worth finding (it's on an old Grapevine compilation of Hamilton shorts).

This early Warner Brothers short subject was by way of introducing one of vaudeville's best known song and dance men of the day, Georgie Price. He was quite the headliner on stage though he never did make a mark on the screen.

Price had a nice bravura style in the tradition of Al Jolson and Harry Richman. He started out as a child performer and since he never grew past 5'4" he played children well into adulthood. His theme song was Bye Bye Blackbirds.

On this short subject one of the songs he sings is Hello Sunshine Hello which I have a contemporary Al Jolson recording of. Since I had never seen or heard Price perform before contrasting him to Jolson was interesting.

I'm glad TCM showed this film tonight to give me and others a chance to see one of our forgotten vaudeville greats.

When you see the words, "An Educational Comedy", there are generally two things you can be pretty sure of right off: Firstly, the movie short you're about to see is not in the least bit "educational". Secondly, it is not a "comedy". An unfunny waste of time, certainly, and a disappointment all around no matter what its cast, credits and other credentials. But comic? No way!

"Don't Be Nervous" is an excellent example of Educational at its worst. Despite his multiplicity of credits as director and writer, Watson's direction is so flat-footed he even makes the clever camera-work that unites both Hamiltons on screen seem ho-hum, tame and uninteresting.

As for the script, despite the humdrum moments of confusion, the only watchable thing about it is the fact that the done-to-death role of the gangster's sexy girl friend is played by Rita La Roy. Now Miss La Roy is quite something. She makes this short worth seeing all by herself. As for Ham Hamilton, one word describes him: Dull!

Most of "Don't Be Nervous" is quite enjoyable. Too bad the ending is amazingly unfunny.

When the story begins, you learn that the dreaded criminal Nick the Shiek has escaped and the police are looking for him. Unfortunately for the meek and dopey Vernon Snodgrass, he looks exactly like Nick...leading to serious problems to say the least.

Seeing Lloyd Hamilton playing the tough Nick was a lot of fun and a nice contrast to his effete and wimpy Vernon. But the ending was pretty awful and involved tear gas...and it really was unfunny. Still, it's worth seeing despite the very weak ending.