Bargain Madness (1951)

This Pete Smith Specialty is a humorous look at women battling for bargains in a department store.

Director:

Dave O'Brien

Writers:

Julian Harmon, Dave O'Brien

Stars:

Pete Smith, Maxine Gates, Sally Payne

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Pete Smith	...	Narrator (voice)

Storyline

Sally and Dorothy are neighbors. Dorothy's excited about a big sale at a downtown clothing store; Sally isn't interested. Dorothy has several mishaps taking the bus downtown, but finally arrives just in time, only to see Sally already there. The doors open, the crowd pushes in, and the neighbors find themselves at odds again and again. Meanwhile, a plus-size woman tries on girdles. Will she and the two neighbors find any bargains?

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Plot Keywords:

spoof title | narration

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Genres:

Short | Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 July 1951 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

9 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Madness indeed and still a timely topic in view of recent tragedy...

This is a quite hilarious Pete Smith Specialty in which two housewives are determined to have first pick at a department store bargain sale, no matter how much tugging they have to do.

But what struck me was the scene showing the crowds waiting outside the store's doors awaiting access, pushing against the door windows and then stampeding into the store, knocking "Dorothy" to the ground while they stepped over her. In view of recent headlines about just such an event that ended tragically, it's hard not to call this sort of thing "madness." Funniest episode has an overweight woman determined to squeeze into a girdle with the clips returning to her every once in awhile as she tries on still another. It's a scene reminiscent of the Disney Cinderella's step-sisters trying to squeeze their big feet into a dainty glass slipper.

Plenty of amusing sight gags fill up the screen time, so it's a very enjoyable short subject with amusing sound effects as well punctuating the humorous aspects.