Knights Out Review: A Silly Jaunt with Clark & McCullough

Alright, so Knights Out. Is it worth digging up today? Absolutely, if you have a soft spot for really old, *really* goofy comedy shorts. If you’re into the rapid-fire, slightly unhinged humor of a bygone era, this one’s a treat. For folks who prefer their laughs more subtle, or anything made after, oh, 1960, you’ll probably find it a bit much. It’s a specific taste, for sure. 😅

This is a Bobby Clark and Paul McCullough joint, and you know what that means. Their particular brand of chaos. Here, they’re thrust into a medieval tale, or at least a stage play about one, which gives them plenty of room for silly costumes and exaggerated expressions. McCullough is often the more grounded, if still bewildered, one. Clark, with those painted-on glasses and cigar, is just *all over the place*.

The whole thing feels like a fever dream about knights and dames, but with a Vaudeville routine smashed right into the middle. The plot, if you can even call it that, mainly exists to string together a series of gags. And some of them, honestly, still hit. Like the scene where Clark tries to mount a horse, and the horse just looks utterly confused. It’s less a majestic steed and more a very patient prop. The way he struggles with the stirrups, then ends up on the horse backwards, felt genuinely funny, even now. The timing on that particular bit was just *chef's kiss*.

There’s a bit where they’re supposed to rescue someone, I think, a damsel in distress played by Dixie Lee. She just seems perpetually exasperated by their antics. You can almost feel her wondering if these are the best knights the kingdom could come up with. Her eye-rolls are, dare I say, quite modern.

And the jousting scene! Oh boy. It's less about skill and more about two guys flailing around on hobby horses. One lance just sort of *wobbles* off into the distance, missing its target by a good ten feet. The crowd shots here are pretty great too, a few extras in the background looking genuinely bewildered by the spectacle, not just laughing on cue.

Clark’s energy is just relentless. He doesn’t really stop moving or talking. He’s got this high-pitched yammering thing going on, always trying to be the hero, always failing spectacularly. McCullough is the perfect foil, often just standing there, arms crossed, letting Clark dig himself deeper into whatever ridiculous situation they’ve concocted. Their dynamic is really the core of it.

One moment that sticks out: there’s a quick shot of a squire, maybe played by Charles Eaton, trying to polish a suit of armor that’s clearly far too large for him. He keeps getting tangled in it. It’s a tiny little thing, maybe two seconds long, but it says so much about the overall low-budget, high-energy charm of the film. These aren’t grand, epic knights. They’re just... trying their best.

The pacing is *fast*. Like, blink and you might miss a gag. It’s a short film, so they cram everything in. No time for deep thoughts here. Just pure, unadulterated slapstick. It’s certainly not The Destruction of Carthage in terms of dramatic weight, that's for sure. Much more in the vein of something like The Fraidy Cat, just with swords.

I guess the biggest takeaway is, if you’re curious about how comedy used to be, before sound really settled in and before every joke had to be carefully constructed, give Knights Out a shot. It's a loud, silly, and surprisingly enduring piece of old-school fun. Just don't expect anything profound. It's not trying to be. It just wants you to laugh at a guy with painted-on glasses.

Did I notice? 🤔

• Bobby Clark’s cigar never seems to run out. It’s an eternal prop.
• The castle sets are clearly painted backdrops, but they have a certain charm.
• Someone in the background of the jousting scene drops their hat, and no one bothers to pick it up.
• The 'swords' look suspiciously like painted wood.
• Paul McCullough’s double-take when Clark tries to eat a prop apple is gold.