https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023766/We return to the vault's of Education Pictures, "The Spice of the Program," for this film starring Andy Clyde and co-starring Vernon Dent in a significant role. This short is one of the more bizarre shorts, and it smells strongly of pre-code era productions.
Andy Clyde plays a hobo, one of his most common roles, with Vernon Dent as a bipolar French artist bent on committing suicide using a car. The opening scene that introduces these two characters is absolutely surreal and simultaneously hilarious. Vernon Dent is just great with both his ability to just stare ahead as well as the way he just points and says "Look!" as the car approaches the cliff. He was an incredibly talented actor who really excelled as a comic foil. He also makes some wonderful faces while in the studio talking to Andy and while on the phone. Sadly, this is about it for Vernon highlights.
Pre-code moment #1 occurs when Mr. Cellini (Louis Alberni) is trying to kiss him, and Vernon Dent can't decide whether it is sexual or violent (see the picture I posted above) before returning to hiding in his room. That bit is just really off the wall. This kind of comedy was stifled by the Hayes code.
There is a good deal of physical comedy and muttering from "Sunshine" when he and the monkey are hanging the picture, especially while he's stomping on the piano and the guests in the other room hear it as a magnificent concerto.
Pre-code moment #2 is just a bit strange. First, the blobbed paint falls of the painting, which while unrealistic leads to a dramatic revealing of the difference between Andy's accidental "masterpiece" and his character's actual lack of talent. Then, as the monkey jumps on the back of the painting, it causes warping that makes the hourglass-drawn-version of Mrs. Cellini start
twerking bouncing in-and-out. This bit is just completely surreal and deliberately sexualized and really makes you wonder how much opium was smoked during the writing of this script.
A weak supporting cast and several weak effects, typical of Educational, hurt some scattered bits throughout.
After watching FIDDLESTICKS last night, I just had to get a decent short review for Vernon Dent.
9/10
P.S.: never hitch a car ride with someone who's going west.