Faint Heart: Bert Lahr's Early Cop Capers Are Kinda Sweet?

So, is Faint Heart something you should dig up today? Well, if you’re into classic slapstick, or maybe curious about Bert Lahr’s early stuff before he put on the lion suit, then yeah, give it a look. If you need super slick modern comedy or a plot that twists and turns, you’ll probably find this one a bit… light. It’s for a very specific kind of movie watcher, I think.

You know Bert Lahr, right? The Cowardly Lion. Here, in Faint Heart, he’s Felix Rudolff, a tailor. And honestly, it’s kinda wild seeing him in this role. He’s got that expressive face already, that way of just embodying panic.

The whole thing kicks off because Felix sees a parade. Policemen marching. And what does a tailor do? He tries on a uniform. Of course! Suddenly, he's a rookie cop, kinda by accident, just trying to look the part. And it’s immediately clear this uniform isn't gonna make him tough.

Then comes Dynamite Dan. Great name for a bad guy, right? Felix, in his borrowed uniform, somehow manages to handcuff this notorious character. You almost cheer for him, even though it feels like a fluke.

But of course, Dan doesn't stay captured. That’d be too easy. One minute he’s caught, the next he’s gone. It happens so fast you almost miss it, like a quick blink. Felix is then left scrambling, looking utterly bewildered, which is exactly what Lahr does best.

The chase is on, or at least, a very gentle chase. It’s not really high-octane stuff. More like Felix trying really hard not to trip over his own feet while looking for Dan. There’s a lot of running around, some bumping into things. Pretty standard for the era, but Lahr sells the physical comedy.

There's this girl, too, who Felix is trying to impress. Bobbe Arnst plays her. She’s mostly there to be charmed, or perhaps alarmed, by Felix’s antics. She provides the reason for him to keep trying, even when things get totally messy.

One scene, Felix is trying to act all brave, puffing out his chest. But you can see his eyes darting around, ready to bolt. It’s a small detail, but it makes him feel real, not just a caricature. He's trying, bless his heart. ❤️

The humor here is really about Lahr’s reactions. His face, the way his body just kinda deflates when things go wrong. He’s not a hero, he’s just a regular guy who got way, way out of his depth. And that’s where the fun is.

The movie doesn't dwell too much on, you know, police procedure. It’s all about the mix-ups. Felix trying to look competent and failing spectacularly. The film isn't trying to be deep. It's just a simple story about a timid guy accidentally doing something brave.

It’s not perfect. Some of the gags feel a bit slow by today’s standards. You wait for a punchline, and it sometimes just... drifts into the next scene. But that’s part of its old-school charm, I guess. It takes its time.

And in the end, Felix does get his bad guy. And the girl. It’s a happy ending, wrapped up with a nice little bow. You leave feeling kinda good for him, despite all the bumbling. A neat little package.

Didja Notice?

• Felix’s uniform, it looks like it’s several sizes too big. Hilarious.
• Dynamite Dan’s escape: blink and you’ll miss it. Almost feels like they just cut to him being gone.
• The crowd scenes have this weird emptiness, like folks are just kinda standing around, not really reacting to the chaos.
• One moment, Felix tries to salute, and it’s just… wrong. His hand goes all over the place.
• The way the girl smiles at the end? It’s a bit sudden. Like, "Oh, he caught the bad guy, I guess I love him now!"
• You can see the stage lights reflected in some of the set pieces, just barely. A little peek behind the curtain.