Topic: I'm a Father (1935) - Andy Clyde

[Paul Pain]

https://archive.org/details/andy-clyde-i-m-a-father-february-7-1935

I would like to apologize for the unexplained absence.  Basically, I am settled into my new job post-graduation, officially Dr. Paul Pain, the oceanographic and atmospheric heartthrob of millions!  On this note, let's discuss I'M A FATHER.  Of course, most of us here cannot relate to the topic of paternity.     

This was a favorite trope of Columbia.  I believe that they made and re-made this short with both Andy Clyde and Hugh Herbert.  The difference, of course, is that Andy Clyde really did become a father later in life as he didn't marry until he was 40, but he was later devastated when that son died at age 9.  This is why, I think, Andy does so well in these "crotchety old man who hates kids" films.  He  knew what a blessing it was to become a parent and later faced the worst thing that a parent can experience.  This is my opinion.

The problem is the pot.  It requires too much contrivance to succeed like it does and is a little bit laced with stupidity.  Turn off your brain and enjoy the interactions between Mr. and Mrs. Clyde.  Andy is at home in this role, but I wonder why the "Mrs. who is seemingly too old to be a mother" always has to be, ahem, a big beautiful woman besides older.  Lillian Elliott does a fine job in her role.

The rest of the short is mostly the same stuff we're used to seeing in many shorts and TV shows.  Men worrying, being anxious, finding out they had triplets, etc.  These jokes appear in all such productions since the dawn of film, it seems. and they're no better or worse here with the usual use of low budget actors for the roles.  The only one who ever really made me laugh in this role was Cy Schindell.

It's Columbia comfort food, but just be prepared for a poor quality print, as is typical of the surviving shorts that don't feature the surnames Howard, Keaton, or Chase.

7/10

[Paul Pain]

Bumping this thread because no one did anything with it.  Kind of a disheartening return to reviews for me.