A humorous look at the problems people have trying to sleep.A humorous look at the problems people have trying to sleep.A humorous look at the problems people have trying to sleep.
- Director
- Writer
- Star
- Won 1 Oscar
- 1 win total
- Director
- Writer
- Robert Benchley(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- Trivia"Bodily Positions in Restful Sleep", the booklet referenced in the short, was published in 1931 by the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research (now part of Carnegie Mellon University) in Pittsburgh, PA. The author was N. M. Johnson, PhD, the Institute's head of the Investigation of Sleep.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story (2002)
Featured review
How to Laugh
How to Sleep (1935)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Robert Benchley made dozens of shorts in his career and this here is perhaps the best known. One reason is the title and subject itself but another is the fact that this was Best Short Subject at the Oscars. In the film Benchley explains that sleep comes from the blood flowing out of the brain. The comedian then explains some of the possible ways to make this happen before he turns his attention to the many positions one sleeps in at night. I'd be lying if I said this short deserved an Oscar but in its own way it's pretty clever and it certainly ranks as one of the best in the "How to..." series. I think this one benefits from the subject matter as well as some neat animation used. One example is when we see the blood leaving the brain and another happens later when Benchley is counting sheep. Neither thing is going to make you forget Walt Disney but it was a nice added touch. There are some pretty funny moments here including one where Benchley discusses the various positions someone is in while asleep and mentions that a normal person moves over fifty times a night.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Robert Benchley made dozens of shorts in his career and this here is perhaps the best known. One reason is the title and subject itself but another is the fact that this was Best Short Subject at the Oscars. In the film Benchley explains that sleep comes from the blood flowing out of the brain. The comedian then explains some of the possible ways to make this happen before he turns his attention to the many positions one sleeps in at night. I'd be lying if I said this short deserved an Oscar but in its own way it's pretty clever and it certainly ranks as one of the best in the "How to..." series. I think this one benefits from the subject matter as well as some neat animation used. One example is when we see the blood leaving the brain and another happens later when Benchley is counting sheep. Neither thing is going to make you forget Walt Disney but it was a nice added touch. There are some pretty funny moments here including one where Benchley discusses the various positions someone is in while asleep and mentions that a normal person moves over fifty times a night.
helpful•16
- Michael_Elliott
- May 1, 2011
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- MGM Miniatures (1935-1936 Season) #1: How to Sleep
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime11 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content