The Big Shot Review: Snub Pollard Chasing a Scotsman

Is it worth the time?

If you have ten minutes and like seeing guys in silly mustaches fall over things, then yeah, sure.

People who hate silent slapstick or logic will probably want to skip this one entirely.

Snub Pollard is the main draw here, and he looks like he's having a weirdly good time being confused.

The movie is called The Big Shot but it's really just about two guys being bad at their jobs.

They are reporters, or one's a photographer, and they need to find this Scotsman.

I don't know why the Scotsman is so famous, the movie doesn't really care to explain it much.

He's just reclusive, which in silent movie language means he shakes his fist a lot at the camera.

The camera Snub carries is this giant, clunky wooden box that looks heavy as hell.

There is a scene where they try to sneak up on the guy and it’s about as subtle as a car crash.

Snub does this bit where he hides behind a tiny pole that clearly doesn't cover him.

It's the kind of dumb humor that works because he looks so earnest about it.

The other guy, Marvin Loback, is just there to be the big guy who gets annoyed.

Their chemistry is okay, but it's not exactly legendary or anything.

It kind of reminds me of the pacing in The Strong Man, but way more low-budget and frantic.

There’s a moment with a fence that goes on slightly too long.

I think they were just trying to fill the runtime because the plot is pretty thin.

The Scotsman eventually gets fed up and the chase starts, which is the best part honestly.

I noticed a stray dog in the background of one shot that seemed way more interested in the crew than the actors.

It's those little accidents that make these old films feel real and alive.

Thelma Daniels shows up but she doesn't do much besides stand there and look pretty and confused.

The ending feels like they just ran out of film and decided to stop shooting.

It's not as polished as something like The Doll, but it has its own weird charm.

I found myself wondering how many times Snub actually hit his head during the filming.

Some of those falls look actually painful, not just movie-painful.

The quality of the print I saw was abit grainy, but you can still see Snub's twitchy eyes.

If you like this, you might also like Pop Tuttle's Tac Tics for that same era vibe.

It’s a distraction, nothing more, nothing less.

Sometimes a distraction is all you need on a Tuesday night when you're bored.

Don't expect a masterpiece and you'll be fine.