Hey, Nanny Nanny: Why Is There a Goat at Dinner?

Is this worth your time?

If you like old-school slapstick that makes zero sense, sure. If you prefer movies that actually have a point, stay away. It’s for the folks who want to see a goat walk into a dining room and chaos ensue. Everyone else? You’ll probably hate it.

There's this moment where the goat just stands there. It's not doing anything, just looking at the camera. It’s honestly the most compelling performance in the whole film.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Hey, Nanny Nanny (1933) through its definitive frames.

The plot is basically just an excuse to have people fall over. It’s loud, it’s frantic, and the window washers—played by Clark and McCullough—seem to be making up half the lines as they go. You can tell when they are trying not to laugh at each other. It’s charming in a really messy way.

I found myself wondering if this felt as chaotic back then as it does now. It’s like a car crash you can’t look away from, but the car is full of fancy appetizers and a very confused farm animal. 🐐

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Hey, Nanny Nanny (1933) through its definitive frames.

Odd little observations

• The dinner table set-up looks expensive, but the acting makes it feel like a school play.
• I’m still not entirely sure why the goat was invited to the party.
• The window cleaning gear seems to disappear and reappear whenever the director remembers it.

It definitely lacks the polish of something like Welcome Stranger. But it also doesn't pretend to be high art. It’s just a bunch of people running around screaming, which is fine, I guess. At one point, a plate of food flies across the room and hits a guy in the face. It lasts a second too long and it’s actually kind of funny.

It’s not as tightly paced as Bargain Day, but it’s got a weird energy. You watch it, you feel a bit dizzy, and then it’s over. It’s barely an hour long, which is a blessing. Don’t go looking for deep themes here. There aren't any. Just window washers and a goat causing property damage.