Talented B-Movie director Roy Rowland got his start in pictures directing shorts for MGM back when movie theaters showed short films instead of soda commercials before the feature. His most famous shorts are the comical "How To..." series. These 11 minute spoofs were "mockumentary" educational films on how to do seemingly simple tasks. In this, the first of the series, narrator Robert Benchley instructs an average joe on the "proper" way to wake up, get ready and "start the day." Of course, it wouldn't be a "How To..." film unless every possible thing went wrong along the way. From a toothpaste shortage to a faulty shower, the film is one disaster after another until its modest punchline. Those looking for unappreciated talent should consider Roy Rowland.
2 Reviews
Not Bad but Not the Best
Michael_Elliott23 July 2009
How to Start the Day (1937)
** (out of 4)
Entry in MGM's "How to..." series with Robert Benchley playing your average man. In this episode (as the title tells you) he teaches us how we should go about starting the day so that we arrive at work refreshed and on time. This includes the best way to wake up in the morning as well as the best way to get dressed and brush your teeth. This is a pretty weak entry because the narration is so incredibly bad and unfunny that it quickly grows on your nerves and not in a good way. There are a few funny physical gags running throughout the film but they're all pretty much ruined by the narration. Whenever Turner Classic Movies plays this short I'd highly recommend turning the sound off and just pretending you're watching a silent film. Benchley does a pretty good job in terms of the physical stuff but the screenplay really lets him down. This short isn't as bad as HOW TO VOTE but it's not as funny as HOW TO EAT or HOW TO WATCH FOOTBALL.
** (out of 4)
Entry in MGM's "How to..." series with Robert Benchley playing your average man. In this episode (as the title tells you) he teaches us how we should go about starting the day so that we arrive at work refreshed and on time. This includes the best way to wake up in the morning as well as the best way to get dressed and brush your teeth. This is a pretty weak entry because the narration is so incredibly bad and unfunny that it quickly grows on your nerves and not in a good way. There are a few funny physical gags running throughout the film but they're all pretty much ruined by the narration. Whenever Turner Classic Movies plays this short I'd highly recommend turning the sound off and just pretending you're watching a silent film. Benchley does a pretty good job in terms of the physical stuff but the screenplay really lets him down. This short isn't as bad as HOW TO VOTE but it's not as funny as HOW TO EAT or HOW TO WATCH FOOTBALL.
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