Let's Do Things (1931)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Hal Roach

Release Date:

6 June 1931 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Short

Plot:

Zasu & Thelma go out with two idiots to a nightclub. |

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman

Cast

Zasu Pitts	...	Zasu Pitts
Thelma Todd	...	Thelma Todd
George Byron	...	Milton
Jerry Mandy	...	Doctor Mandy
Charlie Hall	...	Waiter

Runtime:

27 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Company:

Hal Roach Studios

Movie Connections:

Followed by The Soilers (1932)

Soundtrack:

Them There Eyes

Them There Eyes

This is the first of a series of Hal Roach comedies spotlighting the talents of two of the big screen's most gifted comediennes, Thelma Todd and Zasu Pitts. Thelma and Zasu made a magical pair of cut-ups, almost a female counterpart to Hal Roach's timeless comic team, Laurel and Hardy. Zasu was just as versatile as Stan Laurel and exhibited nearly as many humorous mannerisms. If the viewer thinks Zasu's image is familiar it's because she was the inspiration for Popeye's Olive Oyl cartoon character's voice and idiosyncrasies. Thelma, on the other hand, was more an equal in the comedy department, seldom satisfied with just playing it straight for Zasu. She was a beautiful blond with an instinct for comic timing. Though gorgeous, she was adept at physical humor too. Like the later Lucille Ball, Thelma was lovely yet could still play the clown.

"Let's Do Things" is to some extent a parody of Clara Bow's "It," released four years earlier. The story begins in the same location, Waltham's, The Biggest Store in the World, where Thelma and Zasu are sales clerks in the music department. Rather than selling merchandise the two beauties are singing with a gang of customers--all men--the popular song, "Them There Eyes." The camera zooms in on the face of Wild Bill Elliott, when he was still being called Gordon Elliott. His fans will enjoy hearing him sing in harmony with the others. The manager shoos them all away and commands Thelma and Zasu to get to work selling music. A funny part ensues with Zasu reading aloud the titles of sheet music, adding commentary: For example, "I'm Throwing Myself Away," only twenty-five cents.

Zasu's rather stout boyfriend who enjoys culinary delights enters telling her that he has fixed Thelma up with a medical doctor. Thelma is enthusiastic until she learns that he is an orthopedic physician. When they all meet in Thelma and Zasu's apartment, Thelma is turned off by her blind date and feigns a headache. The good doctor twists, yanks, and pulverizes Thelma into a pretzel. She confides to Zasu that she had better go with them to the nightclub or she'll get her neck broken.

All types of shenanigans befall the wistful couples, one of the funniest being the good doctor treating the dancers who have the worst spines he has ever encountered. Once he finishes with them, they do one of the craziest dances the viewer is likely to see, their bodies bent out of shape like so many contortionists. There is a slapstick ending that wraps up the show just right.

Those who like slapstick humor at its best, presented by two experts and directed by another, will enjoy "Let's Do Things." Forget the rather generic title, and watch the fun. Male viewers get a bonus. Thelma shows more cleavage than usual, and what cleavage!