FLUNKY, WORK HARD (1931)

Clocking in at only 28 minutes, FLUNKY, WORK HARD (Mikio Naruse's 8th film and his earliest work available to the public...as of 2019)  tells the unfunny comedy/tragedy story of an insurance salesman who is not only terrible at his job, but is also terrible at being a loving father, being a supportive husband and being able to face reality.  Example: when the landlord knocks on the door because the rent is overdue, this stud runs and hides in the closet.  All of this is presented as somehow be funny.

After bravely hiding in his closet, he goes out to sell insurance, but doesn't close any deals.  Later on, while walking home empty-handed, he sees his young son, who had just defended himself against three other boys who tried to beat him up.  Once the father notices that one of the bullies is the son of a woman he's trying to sell insurance to, he starts yelling and smacking his kid around.  Dad of the Year right there.  The kid is understandably upset and runs off...and gets hit by a train!!!  What the hell?

I love Mikio Naruse's later masterpieces (like WHEN A WOMAN ASCENDS THE STAIRS), but this earlier stuff is definitely dated and not going to win over any new fans.  As a lifelong student of film, I'm glad I watched it and did notice some interesting filmmaking techniques (especially towards the end of the movie), but the average passive movie watcher will probably be bored.

SHOW PEOPLE (1928)

What a fun movie.

Marion Davies plays a naive young woman who travels to Hollywood to be a actress in serious movies, but instead ends up getting splashed in the face with seltzer water and chased around in slapstick comedies.  While making these films she makes a loyal group of friends, including William Haines who is secretly in love with her.  Soon though, she gets a chance at becoming a serious actress.  She does so and becomes a big star, which for some reason causes her to purse her lips up like a rabbit and turn her back on her friends.  You can probably guess what happens next.

King Vidor's SHOW PEOPLE is a treasure.  The story might sound serious, but it's actually very funny.  Marion Davies' performance is totally charming, the pace is quick, the story has a modern feel to it, the cameos are impressive and the behind-the-scenes feel to the whole thing is fascinating.  I enjoyed it so much that I actually watched it twice!  Although I do wish that the script had been beefed up a bit.  A longer time spent showing her working in the low-budget comedies would have helped.

But it is what it is and I was smiling from beginning to end.  And that scene where Marion Davies' character sees the real life Marion Davies is absolutely adorable.  Highly recommended for fans of silent movies.

Great scene where Marion Davies' character sees the real life Marion Davies and doesn't approve...