DbcultAccessing Vault...
7.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. A Pair of Tights remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, yes. If you like watching people get unreasonably frustrated over small things, you’ll have a blast.
It’s perfect for anyone who thinks modern comedies try too hard. If you hate repetitive physical gags, though, you’ll probably want to skip this one.
I watched this on a Tuesday night when I didn't want to think about anything heavy. It’s basically the cinematic equivalent of a deep sigh followed by a laugh.
The whole thing is built around such a simple, annoying situation. Two girls, Marion and Anita, are on a date with two guys, one of whom is their boss and a total cheapskate.
They stop for ice cream because it’s cheap. That’s the setup. 🍦
Anita Garvin is the MVP here. She has this way of looking at the camera like she’s personally offended by the universe.
She’s tall, her partner Marion is short, and the height difference is used for some great visual gags. It’s a bit like a female version of Laurel and Hardy, which makes sense since Leo McCarey was involved.
There is this one bit where she’s trying to carry about four ice cream cones. You can just feel her anxiety about dropping them. The tension is real.
I found myself actually shouting at the screen when the kid kept getting in her way. Spec O'Donnell plays the brat, and man, he is effective at being punchable.
He just stands there. Watching. Being a nuisance. It’s great.
Most of the movie takes place in front of an ice cream shop. There is this swinging door that becomes the main villain of the story.
Every time they almost get the ice cream to the car, something happens with that door. Or a gust of wind. Or a random guy walking by.
It goes on for a long time. Maybe too long for some people? But that’s the point.
The repetition makes it funnier the fourth time it happens. By the fifth time, I was actually worried for the floor of that set.
There's a lot of melting going on. You can almost smell the sticky sidewalk through the screen.
Unlike some other films from The Jazz Age, this doesn't feel like a museum piece. It feels like a bad day we’ve all had.
The guy in the car, Edgar Kennedy, does his famous "slow burn." He just sits there getting angrier and angrier while the girls fail at their one job.
His face gets all scrunchy. It’s a very specific kind of 1920s acting that I actually miss in movies today.
He doesn't need to say anything. You just know he’s thinking about how much he hates everyone in that car.
It’s a bit weird how the movie ends. It just kind of... stops? Slapstick shorts usually do that.
One minute they are fighting in the street, and the next, it's over. No big wrap-up. No lesson learned.
The boss is still cheap. The girls are still hungry. The ice cream is still on the ground.
It’s not trying to be a profound exploration of anything. It’s just about how hard it is to get a snack when the world is against you.
If you've seen stuff like Scandal or other silents of the era, this one feels much more "street level."
It’s messy. It’s loud (even though it’s silent). It’s very human.
I’d watch it again just for the scene where the car finally tries to pull away. Pure chaos. 🚗💨
Anyway, go watch it if you're frustrated with your job or your friends. It’ll make your problems feel smaller than a melting scoop of vanilla.
IMDb —
1920
Community
Log in to comment.
