Is this worth your time?
If you have twenty minutes and you like
old-school slapstick, then yeah, give it a watch.
It’s great for people who miss the era when a monkey was a valid plot device. 🐒
If you hate high-pitched screaming or movies where the plot is basically just people running back and forth in a hallway, you will probably want to skip this one.
The Setup
So, Thelma Todd and Zasu Pitts are on a train heading to a big Broadway show.
They aren't alone though; they've got this monkey with them.
I don’t really know why they have the monkey, but in 1932, people just had monkeys in movies I guess.
The whole thing feels very much like a Hal Roach production, which means lots of
physical comedy and people falling over.
The Duo
Zasu Pitts is just... she is an acquired taste.
She has these hands that never stop moving, like she’s trying to fold an invisible piece of laundry.
Her voice is that shaky, nervous warble that either makes you laugh or makes you want to turn the volume down.
Then you have Thelma Todd, who is basically the 'straight man' here, but she gets to do some great frustrated faces.
She’s much more grounded, which makes Zasu look even more ridiculous.
It’s a bit like a female version of Laurel and Hardy, but maybe a little more
shrieky.
The Monkey Factor
The monkey is the real star, let’s be honest.
It gets into everything and causes a huge mess in the sleeping car.
There is one part where the monkey is hiding under the covers and people think it's a person, which is a classic gag that still works.
Actually, the monkey seems a bit stressed out in some shots.
I wonder if they had monkey trainers back then or if they just let it loose and filmed what happened.
Specific Moments I Liked
- The bit with the upper berth on the train is genuinely funny.
- Zasu trying to hide the monkey in her coat while it's clearly wiggling around.
- Charlie Hall shows up—he was in a million of these shorts and always plays a great 'angry guy.'
- The ending is kind of abrupt, but most of these shorts are.
There’s a scene where the troupe of actors is trying to rehearse, and it just feels like total
madness.
It reminded me a little of the chaotic energy in
Puppy Love, even though that’s a different vibe entirely.
The Vibe
The train setting is perfect for this kind of comedy because it’s so cramped.
You can really feel how annoyed everyone is getting.
It’s not exactly deep cinema, but it doesn't try to be.
It’s way less serious than something like
East of Borneo, which I watched recently and felt much more 'stiff.'
Show Business is just loose and messy.
Sometimes the jokes don't land, like a bit where a guy is just shouting for too long.
But then Zasu does something weird with her eyes and you're back in.
Wait, what about the plot?
There isn't much of one, honestly.
They are on the train, the monkey goes nuts, they get in trouble.
That’s the whole movie.
It feels like it was written on a napkin during lunch.
But that’s why it works—it’s just pure
energy.
It’s definitely better than some of the drier stuff from the same year, like
Modern Husbands.
Random Observations
The costumes for the Broadway girls are actually pretty cool.
You can see the transition from silent movies to 'talkies' here because the dialogue is a bit clunky.
People speak very clearly and slowly, probably for the microphones.
One reaction shot of the conductor lingers way too long, it almost feels like the film got stuck.
Also, the monkey steals a gun at one point?
That’s a bit
intense for a light comedy, but hey, it was the 30s.
Final Thoughts
Is it a masterpiece? No.
Is it a fun way to see some legends of comedy doing their thing? Definitely.
It’s a bit like watching a live cartoon.
I’d say it’s worth a look if you’re a fan of the Hal Roach style.
Just be prepared for a lot of high-pitched noises. 📢
It's a much lighter watch than
The Victory of Virtue, that's for sure.
I'm gonna go watch it again just to see if I missed any of the monkey's facial expressions.
They really don't make 'em like this anymore, probably because of animal safety laws.
But mostly because this kind of pure slapstick is a dying art.
Anyway, that's my take on it.
Go watch it if you need a laugh and have zero attention span today.
