Nightmarish and surreal, this Pathetone short gives us a glimpse of Tod at his funniest, a wonderfully sick piece of film which is probably closer to his stage work than most.
A Pathe Reporter approaches a ramshackle looking door, hoping to interview the great man. Inside we see Tod "at home" in what looks like a torture chamber. Hearing the reporter outside Tod opens the door, grabs him and hoists him bodily inside, kicking the door shut behind him.
Inside he locks the door and straps the reporter into a barber's chair, and fiendishly strops his razor blade as he tries to ask Tod about his career.
A leggy chorus girl walks on and Tod enquires whether she's sure she's in the right film. The reporter nervously remarks that she has very pretty... legs, and Tod concurs before chasing her off screen with a gleeful leer. We hear a scream and he returns, presenting one of her "pretty legs" to the horrified reporter.
"This is murder" he exclaims.
"Not murder my dear fellow. Slaughter... Tod Slaughter." answers Tod before breaking into one of his best chuckles which continues over the closing credits.
They just don't make 'em like this anymore.