For several years during the 1920s the De Forest Phonofilm company produced experimental talkie shorts, including some that preserve speeches by prominent public figures, such as Charles Lindbergh and President Calvin Coolidge. While I recognize the historical value of these films, I have to admit the Phonofilms I really enjoy are the ones that offer lighthearted variety acts, especially comedy sketches and/or songs by the likes of Eddie Cantor, Weber & Fields, and Eubie Blake. One short I've discovered recently stars a comic actor who was not particularly well known when his act was filmed, but who earned show biz immortality years later on T.V.'s "I Love Lucy," in the role of the Fred Mertz. That's right, the one and only William Frawley appeared in a Phonofilm way back in 1927, along with his then-wife and stage partner Edna. I can't say this is the funniest routine I've ever witnessed, but it's amusing, certainly enough to hold a viewer's attention for the few minutes it requires to view.
The act is staged before a generic street corner backdrop. Edna enters first, looking about uncertainly. Next comes Fred—oops, I mean Bill—looking remarkably trim, wearing a neat suit and a plaid peaked hat, and carrying a sample case. He whistles brusquely for the young lady to step over. She's a little miffed, but complies. The stranger apologizes for his rudeness, then opens his case, produces a bottle, and launches into a spiel for the amazing cure-all drug he's selling, "Hoak," spelled thusly. This miraculous lozenge relieves gloom, fills flat tires, improves poker hands, and produces hair on Mexican dogs, billiard balls, doorknobs, etc. etc. When the young lady expresses skepticism, our pitchman reads a few testimonials from satisfied customers, then gives her a pill, which we're told will make her sing like a bird. She proceeds to do so, more or less. Whereupon, the lady requests one that will make her dance. The pitchman gives her another pill and she swallows it, but we discover he's mistakenly given her one that turns her into a ventriloquist's dummy; she assumes the floppy posture and grotesque expression of a dummy with startling accuracy. The duo then perform a ventriloquist act. (Notwithstanding the film's title, however, the voice is provided by an unidentified actor offstage; Frawley was not an actual ventriloquist.) The jokes aren't the greatest, but Edna is cute and funny, and steals the show from her husband. What ever became of her, I wonder?
This short is a must for "I Love Lucy" aficionados, vaudeville buffs, and viewers with an interest in early talkies. And as for you Bill Frawley fans out there, well, unless any of his silent films turn up someday, you're never going to see him looking younger than he does here!
The act is staged before a generic street corner backdrop. Edna enters first, looking about uncertainly. Next comes Fred—oops, I mean Bill—looking remarkably trim, wearing a neat suit and a plaid peaked hat, and carrying a sample case. He whistles brusquely for the young lady to step over. She's a little miffed, but complies. The stranger apologizes for his rudeness, then opens his case, produces a bottle, and launches into a spiel for the amazing cure-all drug he's selling, "Hoak," spelled thusly. This miraculous lozenge relieves gloom, fills flat tires, improves poker hands, and produces hair on Mexican dogs, billiard balls, doorknobs, etc. etc. When the young lady expresses skepticism, our pitchman reads a few testimonials from satisfied customers, then gives her a pill, which we're told will make her sing like a bird. She proceeds to do so, more or less. Whereupon, the lady requests one that will make her dance. The pitchman gives her another pill and she swallows it, but we discover he's mistakenly given her one that turns her into a ventriloquist's dummy; she assumes the floppy posture and grotesque expression of a dummy with startling accuracy. The duo then perform a ventriloquist act. (Notwithstanding the film's title, however, the voice is provided by an unidentified actor offstage; Frawley was not an actual ventriloquist.) The jokes aren't the greatest, but Edna is cute and funny, and steals the show from her husband. What ever became of her, I wonder?
This short is a must for "I Love Lucy" aficionados, vaudeville buffs, and viewers with an interest in early talkies. And as for you Bill Frawley fans out there, well, unless any of his silent films turn up someday, you're never going to see him looking younger than he does here!
