Cab Waiting: A Quick Trip With Jack Benny

Is it worth your time?

If you like watching Jack Benny do his thing—that slow burn, the perfect timing, the slightly arrogant but mostly confused persona—then yeah, grab a coffee and watch this. It’s barely a movie, more like a skit that got out of hand. If you’re looking for high-stakes drama or something that actually moves, you’re gonna be bored stiff in about three minutes.

Honestly, it’s mostly just a conversation. That’s it. There's a pretty lady in the back seat, and Benny is behind the wheel trying to keep his cool while she teases him. It reminded me a bit of the way characters trade barbs in Sunny Side Up, where the dialogue carries the whole weight of the thing.

The Vibes

The whole thing feels like a theater stage that someone accidentally put wheels on. You can tell they were just figuring out how to do dialogue-heavy shorts back then, and it shows. The camera doesn't do much. It just sits there, watching them talk. Sometimes that’s enough, but man, it’s static.

There's this one moment where Benny just stares off into the distance, and the silence is almost painful. I think he held that face for about five seconds too long. It was funny, but also kind of uncomfortable? Like, did the director forget to yell cut?

• The backseat lighting is surprisingly moody for a cab.
• June O'Dea is doing all the heavy lifting here.
• I’m pretty sure the "street" outside is just a painted wall, but don't quote me on that.

It’s not trying to be Madame Du Barry or anything grand. It’s just a snapshot of a guy who thinks he’s smarter than he actually is, getting outsmarted by a passenger. It’s thin, sure, but it’s got that weird, dusty charm that makes these old shorts worth clicking on when you're procrastinating.

Just don't go in expecting a masterpiece. It's an artifact. A funny, short, slightly clunky artifact. 🚕