When former prizefighters Max Baer and Max "Slapsie" Rosenbloom were teamed up to star in two-reel comedy shorts, it became quite obvious Columbia Pictures was desperately seeking out a new comedy team. The ex-pugilists starred in 4 short-subjects between 1950 and 1952, and today, they remain obscure little films which were probably forgotten shortly after their initial release. I've personally collected Columbia two-reelers for the past 15 years, and "The Champs Step Out" (the correct title of the film) is the only title in the series I have been able to dig up. As a light scare comedy, the film is OK. The plot is decent, and there are some pretty funny gags.
Character actor Emil Sitka co-stars and steals the show as an eccentric antiques collector who hires a couple of Private Eyes (Baer and Rosenbloom) to guard his precious relics from a gang of crooks. The problem with this film is that it is a Columbia comedy short, with a script written for the two starring comedians who were not trained comedians to begin with. They are ex-prizefighters with little comedic skill, and on top of that, they are in desperate need of acting lessons. During one scene, Rosenbloom screams out something that barely passes as part of the English language. For the fast-paced comedy and dialog, the film would have better suited The 3 Stooges or other Columbia contract comedians.
"The Champs Step Out" is not a terrible little film. It still has it's moments even if the leads can't act their way out of a wet paper bag. However, punching their way out of a wet paper bag is another story...Max Baer throws one of the best on-screen punches I've ever seen!
Character actor Emil Sitka co-stars and steals the show as an eccentric antiques collector who hires a couple of Private Eyes (Baer and Rosenbloom) to guard his precious relics from a gang of crooks. The problem with this film is that it is a Columbia comedy short, with a script written for the two starring comedians who were not trained comedians to begin with. They are ex-prizefighters with little comedic skill, and on top of that, they are in desperate need of acting lessons. During one scene, Rosenbloom screams out something that barely passes as part of the English language. For the fast-paced comedy and dialog, the film would have better suited The 3 Stooges or other Columbia contract comedians.
"The Champs Step Out" is not a terrible little film. It still has it's moments even if the leads can't act their way out of a wet paper bag. However, punching their way out of a wet paper bag is another story...Max Baer throws one of the best on-screen punches I've ever seen!
