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6.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Catch-As Catch-Can remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you love old school slapstick and have a soft spot for Zasu Pitts, sure, pull up a chair. If you need a plot that makes sense or high-end production value, keep scrolling. This is strictly for the folks who find joy in 1930s short comedies.
Zasu Pitts is doing her whole nervous, fluttery thing, which honestly never gets old. She’s convinced she’s in love with a wrestler. We’ve all been there, right? She drags Thelma Todd along to a match. Watching those two share the screen is the only reason to watch this, really.
The wrestling scenes? They are exactly as clunky as you’d expect from 1931. There’s a lot of flailing limbs and people falling over for no reason. It’s not exactly a cinematic masterpiece, but there's a weird charm to how cheap it all feels.
I noticed a guy in the background of the arena scene who clearly forgot he was on camera. He’s just staring into space, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. It’s those little accidents that make these old shorts feel more alive than some modern CGI slogs.
If you enjoy this kind of vintage humor, you might also want to look at Wife Savers for a similar vibe. It’s got that same frantic, slightly desperate energy. Not that they’re high art, mind you.
The ending hits like a wet towel, but that’s kind of the point. It just stops. No big lesson, no character growth. Just a bunch of people running around until the film reel presumably ran out. Classic. 🍿
Don't look for meaning here. Just watch Zasu try to be a tough guy’s gal. It’s a messy, loud, and incredibly short distraction.