Penny Wise
Penny Wise

Movie spotlight

Penny Wise

1935
Movie
17 min
English

When the owner of a department store is about to go on vacation, he tells his children that any idiot could run the store. So they put Joe Cook in charge.

Insights

IMDb6.2/10
Director: Lew LandersGenres: Comedy, Short

Plot Summary

In this short comedy, a man named "Penny" Wise (Billy Gilbert) attempts to navigate the complexities of life and finances, often with comical and disastrous results. He tries various schemes and business ventures, each leading to a new set of predicaments. The film humorously explores themes of ambition and the everyday struggles of an ordinary person trying to get by.

Critical Reception

As a short film from 1935, "Penny Wise" received limited contemporary critical reviews that are widely documented. However, historical context suggests that films of this nature were generally produced for light entertainment and often served as B-movie fare or filler. Its reception would have been tied to the popularity of its comedic actors and its ability to deliver laughs to a mass audience of the era.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film provides lighthearted, slapstick comedy suitable for its time.

  • Billy Gilbert's performance is central to the film's comedic appeal.

  • The plot is simple, focusing on humorous mishaps rather than complex storytelling.

Google audience: Information on specific Google user reviews for this 1935 short film is not available.

Fun Fact

Billy Gilbert, who stars as Penny Wise, was a prolific character actor known for his distinctive laugh and often playing bumbling or exasperated characters in numerous films throughout the Golden Age of Hollywood.

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