A Bird in the Hand (1929) review - Ann Codee is a riot

So, is this worth watching today? Honestly, if you have ten minutes and you like seeing how people used to tell jokes before the world changed, then yes. You’ll probably hate it if you can’t stand high-pitched 1920s voices or if you need a camera to move more than once every five minutes.

It is basically just a filmed stage act. Ann Codee and Frank Orth were actually married in real life, which makes the bickering feel very authentic. You know that kind of low-level annoyance you have with someone you’ve lived with for a decade? It is all over this.

The whole thing takes place on a park bench. It feels very small and cramped, even though they are supposed to be outside. That’s just how early sound movies were, I guess. Everyone had to huddle around the hidden microphone like they were trying to stay warm.

Ann Codee is the real reason to watch this. She has this incredible French accent that she uses like a weapon. She wants a new hat and some fancy clothes, and she is not being quiet about it.

Frank Orth just sits there looking a bit tired. He’s the 'straight man' here, which means he mostly just lets her yell at him until it’s time to sing. It’s funny because I recognize him as the waiter from Casablanca, but here he’s much younger and has more hair.

I couldn't stop looking at Ann's hat. It’s this giant, floppy thing that looks like it might have a life of its own. It’s very 1929. The fashion back then was so specific and a bit strange.

The dialogue is fast. Like, really fast. They talk over each other in a way that reminds me of Babbling Tongues, though this is much shorter. It’s impressive they didn’t trip over their lines more often.

There is a moment where she calls him a 'big fish' or something similar. It’s a weird insult. People used to say the strangest things when they were trying to be mean but polite.

The song they sing at the end is okay. It’s not a hit you’ll be humming in the shower, but it fits the mood. It’s about the title, obviously, the whole 'bird in the hand' thing. Very literal.

"I don't want the bird, I want the feathers on the hat!"

The audio quality is pretty rough. There is this constant hissing sound, like a radiator is leaking somewhere off-camera. It adds a bit of charm if you’re into that kind of thing, but it might give you a headache if you turn the volume up too high.

• The background looks like a painted sheet, which it probably was.
• Frank Orth has a very specific way of holding his cigar that feels very 'showbiz'.
• The way Ann Codee looks at the camera for a split second like she’s checking to see if it’s still running.
• The birds chirping in the background sound like a man with a plastic whistle.

It’s a lot more energetic than On the Quiet, mostly because Ann Codee doesn't know how to be boring. She is always moving her hands or rolling her eyes. It’s very physical comedy even when they are just sitting down.

I did notice one reaction shot where Frank looks genuinely confused. Not 'actor' confused, but 'I forgot my next line' confused. It only lasts a second before he recovers. I love stuff like that.

The ending is very abrupt. They finish the song, there is a tiny bit of dialogue, and then boom, it's over. No big wrap-up. Just a quick exit like they had a bus to catch.

If you've seen things like The Cradle Snatchers, you know this kind of humor. It’s a bit dated, sure, but the timing is still pretty sharp. These vaudeville performers really knew how to milk a joke for everything it was worth.

I wouldn't go out of my way to find this if it wasn't already on a playlist. But it’s a nice little snack of a movie. It doesn't try to be deep or meaningful. It just wants to make you smirk at a guy getting nagged about a hat.

Sometimes that’s all you really need on a Tuesday afternoon. It’s definitely better than watching some of the other dry shorts from the same era like The Fraidy Cat. At least this one has a personality.

One more thing—the way they use the bird metaphor is so clunky it becomes funny. They really hammer it home. Like, we get it, the bird is the money, or the bird is the girl. We got it the first three times!

Anyway, it’s a fun little relic. Watch it for Ann Codee’s facial expressions alone. She was a star for a reason.