Family Troubles: A Quick Look at a 1933 Mix-Up

Is it worth the watch?

If you have twenty minutes and a craving for that frantic, pre-code era energy, sure. It’s a breezy watch for people who enjoy watching characters sprint around in a panic over absolutely nothing. If you need high-stakes drama or modern pacing, stay away. This thing moves like a caffeinated squirrel in a living room.

The whole premise is just a classic comedy engine. A dad overhears the kids talking about how to dispose of a body and where to hide the weapon. You know the drill. He turns into a puddle of nerves while the boys are just obsessing over stage directions. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Il medico delle pazze, where one simple misunderstanding just refuses to die.

Oddly specific things I noticed:

• The way the father’s face goes through about twelve different shades of pale in one scene.
• The dialogue is sharp, but sometimes it overlaps so much you miss half the jokes.
• That one background extra who clearly has no idea what to do with his hands.
• The props department clearly had a field day with whatever "murder weapon" they were using for the play.

There is a moment near the middle where the dad is lurking behind a curtain, and the camera lingers just a tiny bit too long on his sweating forehead. It’s supposed to be suspenseful, but it just becomes hilarious. It’s that kind of awkward, physical comedy that makes these older shorts feel so human.

It doesn't reach the heights of something like The Tuba Tooter, but it has its own weird, charming vibe. The script is surprisingly tight for how chaotic it gets. It never tries to be deep. It just wants to see how much stress it can pile onto one guy before he snaps.

Honestly, the ending is a bit rushed. It feels like they realized they were out of film and just decided to wrap it up with a loud bang and a shrug. But hey, that's part of the fun, right? You aren't watching this for the resolution. You're watching it to see the dad lose his marbles. 🎭