I think there must be a better and more complete version of this film than the best one currently posted on YouTube, as there are other reviews which explain the plot...and I needed this since portions seem to be missing. For example, there are no opening credits and the film is only 14 minutes long...not 20. Perhaps the Max Davidson box set made and sold in Germany has a more complete copy...but it's not like I can easily get a hold of that version here in the States.
The film begins with Max coming to court some woman. During this entire time, two guys (her grown sons?) behave weirdly in order to scare Max away. However, no matter how bizarrely they act and even after putting gasoline in his soup, Max isn't to be deterred in his quest to become this lady's second husband. Soon, there is a wedding. And, of course, the pair try their best to derail the wedding by producing what supposedly is Max's wife and baby...though when you see the kid, it's obviously NOT Max's!
One thing I like about Max Davidson's old comedies is that they were very Jewish...and in the Production Code years of 1934 on, such ethnic comedies were no longer being made and a more neutral (and bland) version of America was being portrayed. While some might blanch at the broad Jewish look to his films, at least it wasn't being whitewashed and show a type that just wasn't popular or obvious in the Code years.
Overall, a funny short but one so incomplete that it's hard to score it adequately. I'll see if I can find a better copy and, if I do, I'll try to update this review.
The film begins with Max coming to court some woman. During this entire time, two guys (her grown sons?) behave weirdly in order to scare Max away. However, no matter how bizarrely they act and even after putting gasoline in his soup, Max isn't to be deterred in his quest to become this lady's second husband. Soon, there is a wedding. And, of course, the pair try their best to derail the wedding by producing what supposedly is Max's wife and baby...though when you see the kid, it's obviously NOT Max's!
One thing I like about Max Davidson's old comedies is that they were very Jewish...and in the Production Code years of 1934 on, such ethnic comedies were no longer being made and a more neutral (and bland) version of America was being portrayed. While some might blanch at the broad Jewish look to his films, at least it wasn't being whitewashed and show a type that just wasn't popular or obvious in the Code years.
Overall, a funny short but one so incomplete that it's hard to score it adequately. I'll see if I can find a better copy and, if I do, I'll try to update this review.
