Run Time: 20 minutes. Studio: Hal Roach Studios. Director: Hal Yates. Titles: H.M. Walker. Producer: Hal Roach. Supervising Producer: Leo McCarey. Main Cast: Anita Garvin, Marion Byron, Edgar Kennedy, Stuart Erwin, Spec O'Donnell. Cinematographer: Art Lloyd. Editor: William H. Terhune.
The filmmakers at the Hal Roach studio tried multiple times to create a female comedy team in the vein of Laurel and Hardy. The best known of these attempts was Thelma Todd and Zazu Pitts (later Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly). Less known is Anita Garvin and Marion Byron. This is unfortunate as the three shorts that paired these two are truly hilarious. Still A Pair of Tights might be the best of the bunch.
Like many of the best silent comedy shorts, the premise of this film is very simple. Two girls are invited to a dinner with their boyfriends and one of their boyfriends' bosses. On the way the girls decide to get some ice cream. Unfortunately, with swinging door and a clumsy Spec O'Donnell, this proves to be a very difficult task.
This film is everything you could want from a silent comedy short. It takes a simple premise and milks as many gags as it can out of it. Many of these gags are laugh out loud funny. When I first saw this film, I wasn't expecting anything great and was shocked by just how often and loud I laughed. This short even has a fantastic use of a running gag. The running gag with the sliding door starts off as simply amusing but it gets increasingly funnier with each use, adding a little bit to the gag each time. This brilliant use of the running gag is one of the specialties of the Hal Roach Studio. It is something this studio did better than pretty much any other comedy studio of Hollywood's golden age. This short also benefits from a great cast. Anita Garvin and Marion Bryon are both perfect here. They show themselves to be expert slapstick comedians They deliver each gag perfectly and their timing and facial expressions make each gag all the funnier.
Hal Yates is a very underrated director of comedy shorts. His other work for the Hal Roach Studio included the Mabel Normand films, Anything Once (1927) and One Hour Married (1927), the Laurel and Hardy films, Sailors Beware (1927) and Hats Off (1927, the infamous lost film) and the Charley Chase short, Imagine My Embarrassment (1928). As a writer he worked on the Mabel Normand film, Raggedy Rose (1926) and the Our Gang (or Little Rascals) short, Thundering Fleas (1926) as well as comedy shorts starring the likes of Lucien Littlefield, Clyde Cook, Bill Beavan and Glen Tryon. However, comedy fans might remember him best for his work at RKO, where he wrote and directed many of the Leon Errol and Edgar Kennedy comedy shorts. He would continue working into the TV era directing episodes of the My Little Margie and Blondie TV series.
Not only does this short show some similarities to the Laurel and Hardy films but Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were originally going to appear. There was originally going to be a bit involving the famous comedy duo, but it never made it to the final film. This was perhaps due to trying to keep the focus on Anita Garvin and Marion Bryon. During the big climatic fight scene, Stan and Ollie were going to get involved in the big fight (this involvement would involve the two being hauled off in a police wagon). This bit was actually filmed but not used.
The Hal Roach Studio paid $35 to the movie animal provider Henry East of use of Hank, the angry dog who appears in the short for the days of September 19th and 20th. The money was well spent as dog provides some great gags for this film. This short was filmed from Wednesday, September 19, 1928, through Friday, September 28,1928 and released on February 2, 1929. Much of this film was shot on the Hal Roach backlot. However, there were a few shots taken on location at Culver City on Main Street. This can be told by the fact that the Harry H. Culver Building (later the Culver Hotel) can be seen in some shots.
Anita Garvin (who was 22 at the time of filming) was born on February 11, 1906. She started her acting career as a Mack Sennett Bathing Beauty (though on stage not in the movies) at the age of 12. She was able to start so young because she was 5'6 and looked older than she actually was. At the age of 13 she became a Ziegfeld showgirl. She began her movie career in 1924 at the Christie Studio. She made over 90 films before retiring in 1940. However, she is probably best remembered today for the 11 films she made with Laurel and Hardy. Marion Byron (who was 17 at the time of filming) is best remembered for her very first movie role as the leading lady in Buster Keaton's Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928). Unfortunately, despite her talent, she spent much of her career in small roles. The leading men were played by Edgar Kennedy and Stuart Erwin. Edgar Kennedy will be familiar to most any fan of classic film comedy. He worked with such comedians as Laurel and Hardy, The Marx Brothers, Charlie Chaplin, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, Charley Chase, the Our Gang (or Little Rascals) kids, W.C. Fields and many more. He would even have his own series of short comedies (many directed by Hal Yates). Kennedy acted in more than 400 films. The actor would even appear in some dramatic movies such as A Star is Born (1937). Stuart Erwin didn't do much work for the Hal Roach Studio but had a long and varied movie career. He would even be nominated for an Academy Award for his supporting role in Pigskin Parade (1936), a movie that is best known today for being Judy Garland's feature film debut. His other acting credits include The Big Broadcast (1932), International House (1933), Going Hollywood (1933), Our Town (1940), Cracked Nuts (1941), The Bride Came C.O.D. (1941), Blondie for Victory (1942), Father Is a Bachelor (1950), Son of Flubber (1963) and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964). Supporting player, Spec O'Donnell will be a familiar face to my fellow Disney fans as he appears in the live action sequences in the Alice Comedies. He also appeared in a couple of Mary Pickford features and was a supporting player in the Max Davidson comedy shorts. He was 17 when he made this film but would continue playing teenagers into his 30's. His last movie would be Convoy (1978).
Anita remembered working with Marion very well. When decades later Anita was talking to historian Randy Skartvedt, the two were having coffee and she reminisced about how she and Marion would sit in the cafe at the Hal Roach Studio and have coffee with lots of cream and sugar. Remembering such a minor insignificant detail decades later involving Marion says a lot about the relationship between the two. The two remained good friends until Marion passed.
A testament to how talented the stars of this film were is that a shot with Anita Garvin simply staring at Edgar Kennedy lasts for one minute and thirty-three seconds. Yet this shot remains hilarious and does not seem like it is held too long.
The following are some Exhibitors reviews from Exhibitor's Herald World. "ANITA GARVIN COMEDIES, — "A Pair of Tights." One of the funniest comedies we have ever shown. Pleased the adults as well as the children. (Mrs. I. H. Dietz, Star theatre, Covington, Ga., Small Town Patronage.)" " A PAIR OF TIGHTS — This is a knockout. (S. B. Kennedy. Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada - General Patronage.)" " A PAIR OF TIGHTS— Not much to this one, just so much film. No laughs registered from this one. (W.M. Lodge, Fulton theatre, McConnellsburg, Pa. - Small Town Patronage.)"
For decades this short was only known for its use in the Robert Youngston compilation movie, When Comedy Was King (1960), which used many clips from classic silent comedies. Today though the entirety of this film can be viewed in great quality on the recent Laurel and Hardy: Year Two Blu-Ray set from Flicker Alley. It is included as a bonus feature on that set, which is an essential must have for all silent comedy fans.
This short can also be watched on YouTube below.
-Michael J. Ruhland
Resources Used
Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies by Randy Skredvedt
The filmmakers at the Hal Roach studio tried multiple times to create a female comedy team in the vein of Laurel and Hardy. The best known of these attempts was Thelma Todd and Zazu Pitts (later Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly). Less known is Anita Garvin and Marion Byron. This is unfortunate as the three shorts that paired these two are truly hilarious. Still A Pair of Tights might be the best of the bunch.
Like many of the best silent comedy shorts, the premise of this film is very simple. Two girls are invited to a dinner with their boyfriends and one of their boyfriends' bosses. On the way the girls decide to get some ice cream. Unfortunately, with swinging door and a clumsy Spec O'Donnell, this proves to be a very difficult task.
This film is everything you could want from a silent comedy short. It takes a simple premise and milks as many gags as it can out of it. Many of these gags are laugh out loud funny. When I first saw this film, I wasn't expecting anything great and was shocked by just how often and loud I laughed. This short even has a fantastic use of a running gag. The running gag with the sliding door starts off as simply amusing but it gets increasingly funnier with each use, adding a little bit to the gag each time. This brilliant use of the running gag is one of the specialties of the Hal Roach Studio. It is something this studio did better than pretty much any other comedy studio of Hollywood's golden age. This short also benefits from a great cast. Anita Garvin and Marion Bryon are both perfect here. They show themselves to be expert slapstick comedians They deliver each gag perfectly and their timing and facial expressions make each gag all the funnier.
Hal Yates is a very underrated director of comedy shorts. His other work for the Hal Roach Studio included the Mabel Normand films, Anything Once (1927) and One Hour Married (1927), the Laurel and Hardy films, Sailors Beware (1927) and Hats Off (1927, the infamous lost film) and the Charley Chase short, Imagine My Embarrassment (1928). As a writer he worked on the Mabel Normand film, Raggedy Rose (1926) and the Our Gang (or Little Rascals) short, Thundering Fleas (1926) as well as comedy shorts starring the likes of Lucien Littlefield, Clyde Cook, Bill Beavan and Glen Tryon. However, comedy fans might remember him best for his work at RKO, where he wrote and directed many of the Leon Errol and Edgar Kennedy comedy shorts. He would continue working into the TV era directing episodes of the My Little Margie and Blondie TV series.
Not only does this short show some similarities to the Laurel and Hardy films but Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were originally going to appear. There was originally going to be a bit involving the famous comedy duo, but it never made it to the final film. This was perhaps due to trying to keep the focus on Anita Garvin and Marion Bryon. During the big climatic fight scene, Stan and Ollie were going to get involved in the big fight (this involvement would involve the two being hauled off in a police wagon). This bit was actually filmed but not used.
The Hal Roach Studio paid $35 to the movie animal provider Henry East of use of Hank, the angry dog who appears in the short for the days of September 19th and 20th. The money was well spent as dog provides some great gags for this film. This short was filmed from Wednesday, September 19, 1928, through Friday, September 28,1928 and released on February 2, 1929. Much of this film was shot on the Hal Roach backlot. However, there were a few shots taken on location at Culver City on Main Street. This can be told by the fact that the Harry H. Culver Building (later the Culver Hotel) can be seen in some shots.
Anita Garvin (who was 22 at the time of filming) was born on February 11, 1906. She started her acting career as a Mack Sennett Bathing Beauty (though on stage not in the movies) at the age of 12. She was able to start so young because she was 5'6 and looked older than she actually was. At the age of 13 she became a Ziegfeld showgirl. She began her movie career in 1924 at the Christie Studio. She made over 90 films before retiring in 1940. However, she is probably best remembered today for the 11 films she made with Laurel and Hardy. Marion Byron (who was 17 at the time of filming) is best remembered for her very first movie role as the leading lady in Buster Keaton's Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928). Unfortunately, despite her talent, she spent much of her career in small roles. The leading men were played by Edgar Kennedy and Stuart Erwin. Edgar Kennedy will be familiar to most any fan of classic film comedy. He worked with such comedians as Laurel and Hardy, The Marx Brothers, Charlie Chaplin, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, Charley Chase, the Our Gang (or Little Rascals) kids, W.C. Fields and many more. He would even have his own series of short comedies (many directed by Hal Yates). Kennedy acted in more than 400 films. The actor would even appear in some dramatic movies such as A Star is Born (1937). Stuart Erwin didn't do much work for the Hal Roach Studio but had a long and varied movie career. He would even be nominated for an Academy Award for his supporting role in Pigskin Parade (1936), a movie that is best known today for being Judy Garland's feature film debut. His other acting credits include The Big Broadcast (1932), International House (1933), Going Hollywood (1933), Our Town (1940), Cracked Nuts (1941), The Bride Came C.O.D. (1941), Blondie for Victory (1942), Father Is a Bachelor (1950), Son of Flubber (1963) and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964). Supporting player, Spec O'Donnell will be a familiar face to my fellow Disney fans as he appears in the live action sequences in the Alice Comedies. He also appeared in a couple of Mary Pickford features and was a supporting player in the Max Davidson comedy shorts. He was 17 when he made this film but would continue playing teenagers into his 30's. His last movie would be Convoy (1978).
Anita remembered working with Marion very well. When decades later Anita was talking to historian Randy Skartvedt, the two were having coffee and she reminisced about how she and Marion would sit in the cafe at the Hal Roach Studio and have coffee with lots of cream and sugar. Remembering such a minor insignificant detail decades later involving Marion says a lot about the relationship between the two. The two remained good friends until Marion passed.
A testament to how talented the stars of this film were is that a shot with Anita Garvin simply staring at Edgar Kennedy lasts for one minute and thirty-three seconds. Yet this shot remains hilarious and does not seem like it is held too long.
The following are some Exhibitors reviews from Exhibitor's Herald World. "ANITA GARVIN COMEDIES, — "A Pair of Tights." One of the funniest comedies we have ever shown. Pleased the adults as well as the children. (Mrs. I. H. Dietz, Star theatre, Covington, Ga., Small Town Patronage.)" " A PAIR OF TIGHTS — This is a knockout. (S. B. Kennedy. Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada - General Patronage.)" " A PAIR OF TIGHTS— Not much to this one, just so much film. No laughs registered from this one. (W.M. Lodge, Fulton theatre, McConnellsburg, Pa. - Small Town Patronage.)"
For decades this short was only known for its use in the Robert Youngston compilation movie, When Comedy Was King (1960), which used many clips from classic silent comedies. Today though the entirety of this film can be viewed in great quality on the recent Laurel and Hardy: Year Two Blu-Ray set from Flicker Alley. It is included as a bonus feature on that set, which is an essential must have for all silent comedy fans.
This short can also be watched on YouTube below.
-Michael J. Ruhland
Resources Used
Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies by Randy Skredvedt
Laurel and Hardy Year Two Blu-Ray set liner notes by Randy Skredvedt
Audio commentary by Randy Skredvedt
https://magnoliasmusingscinema.blogspot.com/2017/04/film-17-pair-of-tights-1929.html
https://mediahistoryproject.org/
Audio commentary by Randy Skredvedt
https://magnoliasmusingscinema.blogspot.com/2017/04/film-17-pair-of-tights-1929.html
https://mediahistoryproject.org/
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