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5.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. So This Is Harris remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, it depends on how much you like watching people from the 1930s act like they're in a high-stakes sitcom. If you’re into the old-school variety show vibe, you’ll probably get a kick out of it. If you need a movie to actually go somewhere, maybe skip this one.
It’s short. Like, really short. It’s basically a setup for a gag that feels like it’s been stretched out just enough to be noticeable.
The whole premise is that Walter can't escape Phil Harris and his singing. It’s funny because, well, the movie makes sure you hear plenty of it. The golf course scenes have this odd, empty feeling, like they just grabbed a field and hoped nobody would notice it’s mostly just grass and bad jokes. ⛳
Walter Catlett is doing a lot of work here, looking perpetually annoyed. It’s a very specific brand of 30s grumpiness that we don't really see anymore.
The moment Walter realizes he’s playing golf with Harris is kind of the peak. He stops being mad and starts being a manager. It’s a bit of a weird pivot, right? Like, he goes from wanting to throttle the guy to trying to exploit his fame in about two minutes flat.
It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Hog Wild, where things just sort of happen because the plot needs them to move along. No deep analysis needed, really.
One of the reaction shots from James Finlayson lingers way, way too long. It becomes this weird, staring contest. It’s actually kind of funny, but you can feel the director just letting the camera roll because they didn't know how to cut to the next bit.
Anyway, it’s not exactly The Iron Man when it comes to narrative depth. But for what it is? It’s fine. It’s a weird, small-scale comedy that feels like a forgotten radio bit brought to life. 📻