Did'ja Know? (1950)

This short looks at the following questions: How would you act as an expectant father?; How many greeting cards are sold in the USA each year?; Why do radiators make that pounding noise?; Why do animals yawn?

Director:

Dave O'Brien

Writers:

Joe Ansen, Dave O'Brien

Stars:

Pete Smith, Don Brodie, Charles King

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Pete Smith	...	Pete Smith - Narrator
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Don Brodie	...	Radiator Repairman
Charles King	...	Sleepy Businessman

Storyline

This short asks the question, "have you ever wondered" about certain situations. The first situation is being the expectant father in a maternity waiting room. Is there any way for the expectant father to be calm and collected upon hearing the news? The second situation is the greeting card business and if there is indeed a card for all occasions. The third situation is a man in the hospital recovering from a bad case of the nerves. What would happen if the radiator in his hospital room constantly knocked? And the fourth and final situation is a man applying for a job who is being interviewed by a sleepy yawning man. Will the yawning be contagious and if so will it affect the applicant getting the position?

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Plot Keywords:

father | expectant father | radiator | hospital | questions | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Short

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 May 1950 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

8 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Edited into Dr. Kildare (1961)

User Reviews

Nice Short by Smith

Did'ja Know? (1950)

*** (out of 4)

Nice Pete Smith short tries to explain various items of interest to those who want to know minor things. For instance, this short tells us how many greeting cards are sold in this country each year. We also learn why animals yawn and why radiators make that annoying 'ping' sound whenever you want quiet. Also on hand is what fathers do when they're expecting a child. Fans of O'Brien and Smith will find this short to be another winner, which both men had many of in their careers. Once again O'Brien not only direct and wrote the film but plays the main fool as well. He plays in each segment but the best is the first one dealing with him playing a father in two forms. One as the overly nervous guy and the other the overly calm one. The nervous bit certainly works the best with one of the highlights coming when he tries to light a match with his cigarette. The greeting cards sequence gives us a couple dumb jokes that might make you laugh because they're so bad. The radiator sequence isn't the best but there are still a few smiles to be had.