Too Many Highballs
Harold Hobbs doesn't much like that his lazy, sponging and unemployed brother-in-law Claude and his mother-in-law live with him and his wife, Hortense, especially as the in-laws seem to rule the roost ever since they moved in. To get his in-laws out of the house, Harold has regularly left a bottle of booze for Claude to be able to entertain prospective employers. When Harold learns that on all the other occasions the employers have not showed (he assumes there probably were no prospective employers) leaving Claude to consume the booze on his own, he decides to show Claude a lesson by spiking the bottle with castor oil. Complications ensue when Joe, Harold's friend, encourages him to skip work to attend the prize fight. What Joe doesn't tell Harold is that he tells his boss that Harold needs the day off to attend to the sudden death of his brother-in-law.
Insights
Plot Summary
A man attempts to juggle multiple romantic interests and a demanding boss, leading to a series of comical misunderstandings and chaotic situations. He tries to keep his various entanglements separate, but as the evening progresses, the highballs and the lies begin to pile up.
Critical Reception
As a short comedy from the pre-Code era, 'Too Many Highballs' is often viewed as a minor but amusing piece of its time, notable for its fast-paced gags and the energetic performance of its lead. Critical reception was generally light, focusing on its role as light entertainment rather than serious cinematic art.
What Reviewers Say
- A lighthearted and forgettable comedic short.
- Relies heavily on physical comedy and misunderstandings.
- Features a charming performance from Eddie Foy Jr.
Google audience: Audience reception for this obscure short is difficult to gauge from publicly available data. However, viewers who have seen it often comment on its simple, old-fashioned humor and its status as a historical curiosity.
Fun Fact
The film was produced by Educational Pictures, a studio that specialized in releasing short films, including comedies, cartoons, and musical subjects, aimed at a wide audience.
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