https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0132290/After last week's torment, LOVE AT FIRST FRIGHT is a pleasant enough short. El is actually looking comfortable for once, and he does a decent job as a verbal comedian in this one. Yes, once again, the short revolves around insulting hillbilly stereotypes and how not-hillbilly El gets caught in yet another feud.
The weakest thing about this short is the extras. Almost no Columbia regulars appear in this, and boy does it make things weird. Marion Martin does here what she was known exclusively for at this: playing a hussy trophy blonde who needs some decent, but not exceptional, acting skills. She is the only other person credited, and there must be a story behind this strange cast. Marion Martin eventually came into her own and featured in many of the late Marx Brothers films. Many of the extras actually had decent fame in years both before and after this. Seriously, go check out the IMDB page for this one as it's more interesting than most Columbia shorts have to offer. Hank Worden lived so long after this one that he had roles in KNIGHT RIDER and SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT, acting until his death at age 91 in 1992.
Overall, this is a case of solid actors, in roles clearly catered to their talents, dealing with a lousy plot. We get murder, chickens that lay explosive eggs (not ducks), and horseback riding down a fence. It's quite the surreal short, and without the sound effects one wouldn't know it's from Columbia.
The rant El makes while he is tied to the stick is quite possibly the best we will see from him. He also does a fine job as a radio announcer. Overall, I'm still not terribly impressed by him, but he's actually earning his pay for once. He fits more with Marx brothers humor than slapstick. The gun joke when he's sitting with Marion is an interesting bit with a crazy twist ending that leads to a chase scene. That ending was also one of Columbia's strangest as well.
Overall, I laughed a lot more at this one than I was expecting by the title.
"Yumpin' Yiminy, get me out of here!"
7/10