That's My Line: Underwear Sales and Border Scuffles

Is it worth your time?

If you have a strange obsession with early sound-era shorts or want to see what Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle was writing when he wasn't in front of the camera, maybe. If you’re looking for a coherent story, you’re in the wrong place. Most people today will probably find it deeply confusing or just plain boring.

The whole thing feels like a sketch that someone forgot to flesh out. Louis John Bartels is out there trying to sell underwear, which is a weird enough premise to start with. But then it just pivots to bandits and border chases. It’s a bit like watching The Sunrise Trail but with way less horse riding and way more awkward flirting.

The Pacing is... Rough

Things move fast, but not in a good way. It’s more like the movie is trying to get itself over with as quickly as possible. The bandit chief shows up, gets mad, and suddenly everyone is running. Zero buildup. Just pure, unfiltered chaos.

I found myself staring at the background extras more than the actual leads. There’s a guy in one scene near the border who looks like he’s just waiting for his lunch break. He’s leaning against a wall, completely out of character. It’s the most authentic thing in the whole production.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of That's My Line (1931) through its definitive frames.

• The dialogue sounds like it was written on a napkin.
• The underwear salesman angle is dropped way too early.
• The bandits aren't scary, they're just noisy.

Honestly, it reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Mickey's Champs. It’s got that same vibe of people running around because the script tells them to, not because the situation actually warrants it. There’s no real tension, just noise. 🙄

I don't think anyone involved really knew how to bridge the gap between 'salesman comedy' and 'action-adventure.' It just smashes them together and hopes for the best. It doesn't work, but it’s kind of funny to watch it fail.

If you're a fan of RKO history, you'll probably get a kick out of how primitive it feels. It’s not high art. It’s barely a movie. But it exists, and that's something, I guess.

Also, why is he selling underwear in the desert? Does he have a suitcase full of them? We never see the inventory. Major missed opportunity for a slapstick gag there.