Max Davidson's face is a work of art in Do Gentlemen Snore?

Is this worth your time?

If you have twenty minutes and like watching a man slowly lose his mind over a squeaky bed, then yes. Watch it.

People who hate silent slapstick or find 1920s domestic humor "dated" should probably go watch The Life of Reilly instead.

Max Davidson has one of those faces that was built for misery. He looks like he’s been smelling something bad for forty years, and in this short, it really works.

The whole plot is just him trying to sleep. That is it. 😴

The house feels like a character itself, mostly because it seems designed to make as much noise as humanly possible. Everything creaks or bangs.

Leo McCarey directed this, and you can see his fingerprints on how the timing works. It is not just fast-paced falling down; it is the waiting for the sound to happen that gets you.

There is this one bit where Max is trying to fix his pillow, and it feels like it goes on forever. It should be boring, but his frustration is so relatable.

Spec O'Donnell is in this too, playing the kid. He has that weird, mischievous energy that makes you want to ground him for life. 👦

I noticed the lighting in the bedroom scenes is actually kinda decent for 1928. It feels heavy and dusty, like a real cramped apartment.

Max’s pajamas are also about two sizes too big. It makes him look even more pathetic when he’s stomping around the hallway.

The snoring gags are a bit predictable, I guess. You know exactly when the next loud snort is coming, but Max's reaction shots save it every time.

It’s a bit like A Rare Bird in terms of that light, throwaway feeling. It does not try to be art, it just tries to be funny.

I found myself wondering if the bed they used was actually broken or if they had a guy under it with a wrench. It sounds painful just to look at.

Gene Morgan and May Wallace do their thing, but they are really just obstacles for Max to bounce off of. They feel like background noise made flesh.

The ending is a bit abrupt. It just... stops? 🤷‍♂️

But that is how these shorts were. They didn't need a profound ending, they just needed to get to the next reel.

If you’ve ever had a roommate who snores like a chainsaw, this movie might trigger some bad memories. It’s funny because it’s true, even a hundred years later.

I think I liked this more than It's a Great Life just because Max Davidson is so much more fun to watch when he's angry.

His hands are always moving. He gestures at nothing. It’s great.

Anyway, it's a solid little piece of history. Not a masterpiece, but it made me laugh at a guy being tired, which is a win. 🎬