The Bees' Buzz (1929)

Andy and Harry get into trouble while trying to stop the marriage of Andy's daughter.

Director:

Mack Sennett

Writers:

Hampton Del Ruth, Harry McCoy,

Stars:

Harry Gribbon, Andy Clyde, Barbara Leonard

Cast

Credited cast:
Harry Gribbon	...	Homer Ashcraft
Andy Clyde	...	Andy - Peggy's father
Barbara Leonard	...	Peggy
Tyler Brooke	...	Tyler Smith - Peggy's Suitor
Vernon Dent	...	Jim - Homer's Pal
Ruth Kane	...	Party Guest
Billy Gilbert	...	Country Club Drinker / Farmer
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Johnny Burke	...	Sheriff (scenes deleted)

Storyline

Andy and Harry get into trouble while trying to stop the marriage of Andy's daughter.

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Plot Keywords:

two reeler

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Genres:

Short | Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 April 1929 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mack Sennett Comedies

Technical Specs

Runtime:

21 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A press book issued by the Mack Sennett Studio in conjunction with this film's release suggested a novel publicity stunt for theater owners. Under the headline EXPLOITATION THAT KEEPS BUSINESS HUMMING, the text reads: "The unique title of this comedy can be linked up with an attractive and attention-getting display . . . An exhibit of bees in a glass window case or apiaries can be fixed in the lobby of your theatre. Cards calling attention to the bees on display and those in the picture, together with the title of the comedy, play dates, etc., should back up the display." It is not reported whether any theater owners acted on the suggestion.

User Reviews

This was a very innovative and entertaining film....if it had been made in 1914!

The film begins with a father (Andy Clyde) announcing his daughter's engagement. It's obvious she is not thrilled about this and soon her lover appears to elope with her--leaving her fiancé in the dust. The fiancé and her dad pursue them as they look for a minister to legitimize their love. Along the way, a variety of very old fashioned sight gags are used--all of which I have seen in movies also made by Mack Sennett Studios a decade or so earlier.

The 1920s and 30s were not kind to Mack Sennett. The once King of Slapstick was now scrambling to find work and pay bills, as Hal Roach and other producers of comedies had now surpassed him--mostly because Sennett's style was hopelessly locked in the same pattern he made so great in the teens and the gags were by now tired and repetitive. While car chases, people dressed in ridiculous cow costumes and bees in people's pants might have seemed funny, by the time this film came out it was all passé. Quite simply, Roach's comedians like Laurel and Hardy, Charley Chase and the Our Gang were able to change with the times and transitioned well from a broad physical style of comedy (of the silents) to the sound era. However, BEES' BUZZ is practically speaking, an older style silent film with some added sound. And to make things worse, the once very funny Andy Clyde (who wrote and acted in many silent classics) is wasted here in this unfunny mess.

It's no coincidence that the film's opening and closing emblem is a dog--as this film is DEFINITELY one for the dogs! Don't believe the amazingly high score on IMDb for this public domain film--find it on the web and watch it for yourself to see how low Sennett had fallen.