- Director
- Stars
Photos
- Director
- Murray Roth(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaVitaphone production reel #849.
- SoundtracksExelsior
(uncredited)
Music by Michael William Balfe
Lyrics by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (from his poem)
Performed by John T. Murray and Vivien Oakland
Featured review
The butler did it! (No, just kidding)
Here's an amusing Vitaphone short that would make an ideal lead-in to The Bat Whispers, Dracula, or any number of haunted house mysteries from the early talkie days. 'Satires' features comedian John T. Murray and his wife Vivien Oakland, assisted by actor Ernest Young. Oakland is best remembered by film buffs for her appearances in many Hal Roach-produced comedies, particularly those of Laurel & Hardy. She's quite funny in this short, and reveals a pleasant singing voice in the finale.
Mr. Young introduces the sketch in an appropriately melodramatic fashion, wearing an opera cape and a glowering expression. He recites a bit of doggerel about the current popularity of mystery plays ("full of thrills and sighing moans, slamming doors and ringing phones") and then slinks away. Eerie music, thunder, and sinister lighting set the scene. Vivien enters, frightened, and then John, ditto. They tiptoe about, and exchange ridiculous quips about how terrible it all is. Young staggers in, groaning, and slumps into a chair. Vivien screams, and dashes away. When John bumps into the corpse and excuses himself, the corpse comes to life long enough to say "That's all right" before falling dead again.
It's all very much like a Tex Avery cartoon performed by live actors. The script is on the level of something you might see in a high school talent show, but it's cute and funny, and the performers seem to be enjoying themselves. For the finale, Oakland & Murray drop the horror show satire and perform a song called "Excelsior" in the old-fashioned style of the 1880s. This too is amusing, although it's strange to think that the period in question was still within living memory of some of the older viewers who saw this short when it was new.
And that's 'Satires,' short and sweet, a Vitaphone comedy sketch that doesn't wear out its welcome and is still entertaining today. Show this with a period cartoon and a newsreel, and then you're primed for Bela Lugosi.
Mr. Young introduces the sketch in an appropriately melodramatic fashion, wearing an opera cape and a glowering expression. He recites a bit of doggerel about the current popularity of mystery plays ("full of thrills and sighing moans, slamming doors and ringing phones") and then slinks away. Eerie music, thunder, and sinister lighting set the scene. Vivien enters, frightened, and then John, ditto. They tiptoe about, and exchange ridiculous quips about how terrible it all is. Young staggers in, groaning, and slumps into a chair. Vivien screams, and dashes away. When John bumps into the corpse and excuses himself, the corpse comes to life long enough to say "That's all right" before falling dead again.
It's all very much like a Tex Avery cartoon performed by live actors. The script is on the level of something you might see in a high school talent show, but it's cute and funny, and the performers seem to be enjoying themselves. For the finale, Oakland & Murray drop the horror show satire and perform a song called "Excelsior" in the old-fashioned style of the 1880s. This too is amusing, although it's strange to think that the period in question was still within living memory of some of the older viewers who saw this short when it was new.
And that's 'Satires,' short and sweet, a Vitaphone comedy sketch that doesn't wear out its welcome and is still entertaining today. Show this with a period cartoon and a newsreel, and then you're primed for Bela Lugosi.
helpful•20
- wmorrow59
- Jan 14, 2012
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- John T. Murray and Vivien Oakland in 'Satires'
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime8 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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