Movie spotlight
Flagpole Jitters
The stooges are taking care of their invalid friend Mary who is confined to wheelchair. At their jobs in a theater, where they hope to earn money for an operation for Mary, they witness a hypnotist, doing his act. The stooges become subjects for his show and are hypnotized into walking out on a flagpole high above the ground. When they come out of their trance and realize their predicament they fall into a window and foil a robbery in progress thus earning reward money to pay for Mary's operation.
Insights
Plot Summary
In this short comedy, two bumbling window washers find themselves in a series of mishaps while attempting to clean the flagpole of a towering skyscraper. Their comedic struggles escalate as they deal with faulty equipment, interfering pigeons, and the ever-present fear of heights.
Critical Reception
As a short comedy from 1956, 'Flagpole Jitters' was likely intended as light entertainment for cinema-goers. Contemporary reviews, if available, would have focused on its slapstick humor and its brevity as a supplement to feature films. It is generally considered a minor but amusing entry in the genre of short comedies from its era.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its physical comedy and simple premise.
Noted as a brief and lighthearted diversion.
Criticized by some for its predictable gags.
Google audience: Audience reactions for this short film are scarce, but typical comments from its era would likely have focused on its straightforward humor and harmless entertainment value. It's remembered by some as a classic example of the kind of short subject that used to precede a main feature.
Fun Fact
The iconic skyscraper featured in the film was a miniature set built specifically for the production, not a real building.
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