Caught in the Act (1936) User Reviews

Pow! Jack in the kisser!

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 14 September 2023]

Who'd think that "Andy Pandy Sandy" (Clyde) could possibly be confused for someone that runs around the streets of a big city and kisses complete strangers? I'm sure that his giddy spinster fiancee Anne O'Neal wouldn't mind him running up to her with a spontaneous kiss, but on his wedding day, when he somehow ends up in a bed sheet and runs up to someone for help, he's accused.

A very funny tongue twisting visit to the police station had me joining in, and I really rooted for him to make his timely arrival at the alter to marry the adorable O'Neal. Clyde, dressed as a cop, is attached by handcuffs to an escaped criminal, while O'Neal ends up approached by the real Jack the Kisser, ending up on a speeding motorcycle with Clyde. Lots of fun, even though it's basically a live-action looney tune.

Might be Clyde's Funniest

[lrrap · 8/10 · 5 January 2013]

The Columbia Andy Clyde shorts are rather hard to take (for me, at least), mainly because their humor is based on a lovable, goofy old duffer who continually gets the hell beat out of him. The Three Stooges seemed far more ephemeral or even "surreal", since the violence they endured rarely seemed to effect them (again, my opinion). So whereas the Stooges' bouts with physical violence only seem to enhance their unique "unreal" qualities, Andy Clyde seems much more like a REAL, earthbound, hapless codger who is continually on the receiving end of every sort of abuse imaginable, both physical and emotional. It becomes almost painful to watch.

But, for some reason, 'CAUGHT IN THE ACT' seems to ascend to "higher realm" of insanity, largely due to the wild and chaotic (Max Sennett-inspired) chase scenes. Once the pathetic Andy finds his wedding day heading for disaster (including a brief "nude scene" on a public street), he ends up at the local police station, where the sobriety test consists of saying "Rubber Buggy Bumper" 10 times quickly. He is then handcuffed to the notorious nut-case JACK THE KISSER, played by John T. Murray (in real life a former vaudevillian song-and-dance man), one of the looniest, most demented, but most hilarious comedians you will ever see.

The crazed daredevil Jack will risk ANYTHING to escape the cops; problem is that whatever crazy stunt he attempts, Andy is obliged to go with him, since they are handcuffed together. There's train tracks, motorcycle antics, falls and jumps out of windows and off of roofs, chase scenes, etc...and once you think things have settled down, the insanity begins anew.

Ultimately, Andy's marriage to his spinster-ish sweetheart Esmerelda takes place (hope this is not considered a spoiler, since after everything that has transpired in the film, few people will even remember the wedding premise).

Director Del Lord was at his best here, and his Sennett studio expertise certainly served him (and this outrageous short) very well.

LR