Babes in the Goods

The Hal Roach Studio tried to create a female version of their big stars, Laurel & Hardy. First, they tried pairing Zasu Pitts and Thelma Todd...with only moderate success. Then, they paired Todd with Patsy Kelly and the pair made films of about the same mediocre quality as the previous ones. Then, after the death of Todd, they tired Kelly out with a couple different partners...and eventually the concept just fizzled. The problem with these films, in my opinion, was mostly the writing. To me, it seemed that the better scripts went to Laurel & Hardy...and even Charley Chase. The rest was given to the female team...and they just aren't all that funny.

In "Babes in the Goods", Patsy and Thelma work at a department store. They are asked to stay late and work as demonstrators in the window. But they are also told not to stop working until the crowd is gone....and a drunk (Arthur Houseman, who made a career out of such parts) sticks around until after the night watchman leaves...and the ladies are locked in the window. So, they try to make the best of it. What's next? See for yourself.

While the concept was very original, this short seems as if it was written with very few laughs. You cannot entirely blame the ladies for this one being a bit limp...and for Houseman upstaging them. Not a bad film....just not all that good either...although I did like the hat scene at the very end.