Big V Comedies


The Big V Comedies were two-reel comedy film shorts produced by Warner Bros. and Vitaphone between 1931 and 1938, contemporary of the more famous Hal Roach, Mack Sennett and Columbia Pictures comedies.

Overview

Most of these Warner short subjects were filmed at the Brooklyn, New York facilities, but a few 1935 titles handled by Ralph Staub were done in Hollywood, including the classic Keystone Hotel. Samuel Sax was often producer in charge.
Among the most famous of these were the very last films starring Fatty Arbuckle, along with vintage screen appearances of Shemp Howard of Three Stooges fame and Bob Hope before his big break in features and radio. One mini-series, dubbed “Girlfriends Comedies” featured Thelma White and Fanny Watson.
The production standards were usually first rate, but the success of an individual film depended on both the talent of the performers and the writers involved. Also many titles were filmed indoors with fewer outdoor action scenes than many California produced comedy shorts.
The name “Big V” was used rather loosely in the trade periodicals, with later logos “Vitaphone Comedy” and “Vitaphone Gay-ety” alternating as substitute names in the later years. Some titles were given alternative series names by Motion Picture Herald as “Big Star Comedies” or simply “2-reel comedies”.
The studio stopped making two-reel comedies in 1938, the same year that Hal Roach sold his Our Gang series to MGM and 20th Century Fox stopped distributing the Educational product. Apart from an occasional special, the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies supplied much of the comedy before the Warner feature attraction, until the Joe McDoakes series began in the 1940s.

List of titles

Below is a listing arranged by year of release with title listed first, followed by major credits, release date and DVD availability.

1931

TitleDirector & performersRelease or review dateNotes
The Meal TicketAl Ray ; Jack Pearl, Peggy Shannon & Claire TrevorJune 7 -
SuccessAlfred J. Goulding ; Fred Allen ; Jack Haley, Helen Lynd & John HamiltonJulyVitaphone Varieties Vol. 2 DVD
The Silent PartnerRoy Mack, Rupert Hughes ; William Gaxton, Frank McGlynn, Shirley Palmer, Roger Gray, Detmar Poppen & Winifred HarrisAugust 2 -
Where Men Are MenAlfred J. Goulding ; Joe PennerSeptember 20-
Rough SailingAlfred J. Goulding ; Joe PennerSeptember 27 -
Lucky 13Alfred J. Goulding ; Thelma White & Fanny WatsonOctober 4 Girlfriends Comedy
The Smart Set-UpRoy Mack & Burnet Hershey ; Walter O'Keefe & Margaret LeeNovember 1"Big Star Comedy" Smart Money DVD
Of All PeopleAlfred J. Goulding ; Thelma White & Fanny WatsonNovember 15 Girlfriends Comedy
Her Wedding NightmareAlfred J. Goulding ; Thelma White & Fanny WatsonDecember 27 Girlfriends Comedy

1932

TitleDirector & performersRelease, copyright or review dateNotes
Shake a LegThelma White & Fanny WatsonFebruary 21Girlfriends Comedy
Poor but DishonestAlfred J. Goulding ; Thelma White & Fanny Watson, Al Klein, James C. Morton & Jessie BusleyMarch 1932Girlfriends Comedy
The Perfect SuitorBenny Rubin, Warren Hymer & Marjorie Hines March 20 "Big Star Comedy"
Maybe I'm WrongRoy Mack ; Richy Craig Jr., Frank Allenworth & othersMarch 27 "Big Star Comedy"
The ToreadorAlfred J. Goulding ; Joe Penner, Paul Guilfoyle, Julie Chandler, Dudley Hawley & Frances McHughApril 17"Big Star Comedy"
On EdgeAlfred J. Goulding ; William & Joe MandelApril 24 "Big Star Comedy"
In The FamilyAlfred J. Goulding ; Thelma White & Fanny WatsonJuly 2 Girlfriends Comedy
Sherlock's HomeAlfred J. Goulding ; Jack Haley, June O'Dea, Anthony Hughes & Herschel MayallSeptember 10-
Here, PrinceJoseph Henabery ; Joe Penner, Joan Castle, Dan Coleman & Margaret DumontOctober 1-
You Call It MadnessAlfred J. Goulding ; Richy Craig, Earl Gilbert, Frank McNellis & Walter WilsonOctober 10-
Hey, Pop!Alfred J. Goulding ; Fatty Arbuckle, Dan Wolheim, Billy Hayes & Herschel MayallOctober 15Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 1 DVD
Then Came the YawnJoseph Henabery ; Jack Haley, Christine Maple & John HamiltonNovember 26-
The Run AroundWilliam Demarest, Jackie Kelk, Eleanor Phelps, Joe Lyons & Hal Clarendon© December 10-

1933

TitleDirector & performersRelease, copyright or review dateNotes
Trouble IndemnityAlfred J. Goulding ; Frank Orth, Ann Codee, Jesse Busley & Marie MarionJanuary 17 -
The Build UpAlfred J. Goulding ; Jack Haley, Helen Lynd, Don Rowan & Ed JeromeJanuary 19 -
Buzzin' AroundAlfred J. Goulding ; Jack Henley ; Fatty Arbuckle, Al St. John, Dan Coleman, Alice May Tick, Tom Smith & Al Ochs© February 4Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 1 DVD
Nothing Ever HappensRoy Mack ; George Givot, Jane Gale & othersMarch 1Grand Hotel DVD
WrongorillaAlfred J. Goulding ; Jack Haley, Harry Shannon, Joan Castle & Victor Kilian© March 4-
An Idle RoomerAlfred J. Goulding ; Jack Haley, Blossom MacDonald, Emily Lowry & Lou LubinApril 29-
How've You Bean?Alfred J. Goulding ; Jack Henley ; Fatty Arbuckle, Fritz Hubert, Jean Hubert & Mildred van Dorn© June 24Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 1 DVD
Nothing But the ToothJoseph Henabery ; Jack Haley, Mildred van Dorn, Chester Clute & Jackie Kelk© August 3-
Salt Water DaffyRay McCarey ; Jack Haley, Shemp Howard, Charles Judels & Lionel Stander© September 16Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 1 DVD
Close RelationsRay McCarey ; Fatty Arbuckle, Shemp Howard, Charles Judels, Harry Shannon, Hugh O’Connell & Mildred van Dorn© September 30Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 1 DVD
Gobs Of FunRay McCarey George Givot, Charles Judels, Olive Borden & Toney Hughes© October 11Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 2 DVD
Turkey in the RawJoseph Henabery ; Gus Shy, Fritz Hubert, Al Ochs & Helen Goodhue© November 9-
In the DoughRay McCarey ; Jack Henley ; Fatty Arbuckle, Shemp Howard, Lionel Stander & Ralph Sanford© November 15Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 1 DVD
Here Comes FlossieRay McCarey ; Ben Blue, Janet Reade, Shemp Howard & Paul Everton© December 9Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 1 DVD
TomalioRay McCarey ; Jack Henley ; Fatty Arbuckle, Charles Judels, Fritz Hubert, Jerry Bergen & Phyllis HoldenDecember 30Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 1 DVD

1934

TitleDirector & performersRelease, copyright or review dateNotes
Howd' Ya Like That?Ray McCarey ; George Givot, Charles Judels, Donald McBride, Lionel Stander & Philip Loeb© January 13Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 1 DVD
Nervous HandsRalph Staub ; Ben Blue & Donald MacBride© January 29-
MushroomsRalph Staub ; Harry Gribbon, Lionel Stander, Cora Witherspoon, Shemp Howard & Russell Hicks© February 14Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 1 DVD
Pugs and KissesRay McCarey ; Charles Judels, Lionel Stander, Greta Granstedt, Shemp Howard & Ralph Sanford© February 17Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 1 DVD
Foiled AgainRalph Staub ; Ben Blue, Sybil Burns, Robert Malcolm & Russell Hicks© March 20-
Very Close VeinsRalph Staub ; Ben Blue, Dorothy Dare, Shemp Howard, Herb Warren & June East© April 14Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 1 DVD
Corn On The CopRalph Staub ; Harry Gribbon, Shemp Howard, Mary Doran & Boyd Davis© April 28Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 1 DVD
I ScreamRay McCarey ; Gus Shy, Shemp Howard, Curtis Karpe & Lionel Stander© May 19Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 1 DVD
Art TroubleRalph Staub ; Jack Henley ; Harry Gribbon, Shemp Howard, Gertrude Mudge, Beatrice Blinn & James Stewart© June 23Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 1 DVD
My Mummy's ArmsRalph Staub ; Russell Hicks, Harry Gribbon & Shemp Howard© June 28Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 2 DVD
The Prize SapRalph Staub ; Ben Blue, Hugh Cameron, Dorothy Brown & Cora Witherspoon© July 21-
Daredevil O'DareLloyd French ; Ben Blue, Shemp Howard, Vicki Cummings, Milton Frome & Maude Odell© August 3Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 2 DVD
Oh Sailor BehaveRalph Staub ; El Brendel & William Carey with Gordon Westcott, Doris Arkinson, Mary Forbes & Vivien OaklandSeptember 1-
Radio ScoutRalph Staub ; El Brendel, Joan Wheeler, Bob Nolan & othersSeptember 1-
All Sealed UpLloyd French ; Ben Blue, Fred Harper, Louise Troxell, Harry Shannon & Lionel Stander© September 13-
Salted PeanutsRalph Staub ; George Givot & Charles Judels© October 9-
Smoked HamsLloyd French ; Shemp Howard & Daphne Pollard© October 20Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 2 DVD
High, Wide and HansomLloyd French ; Jack Henley ; Herb Williams, Leona Powers & Frank OttoNovember 5-
So You Won't T-t-t-talkLloyd French ; Roscoe Ates, Shemp Howard, Donald MacBride, Jackie Kelk & Ruth Gillette© November 24Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 2 DVD
Dizzy And DaffyLloyd French ; Jerome & Paul Dean, Roscoe Ates, Shemp Howard & othersNovember 30 Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 2 DVD

1935

TitleDirector & performersRelease, copyright or review dateNotes
Out Of OrderLloyd French ; Ben Blue, Donald MacBride & Frances McHugh© January 19-
Vacation DazeRalph Staub ; Hobart Cavanaugh, Mary Treen, Jack Norton & others© February 9-
A Peach of a PairLloyd French ; Daphne Pollard & Shemp Howard© February 12Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 2 DVD
His First FlameLloyd French ; Daphne Pollard, John Sheehan, Fred Harper & Shemp HowardMarch 9Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 2 DVD
Once Over LightlyLloyd French ; Roscoe Ates, Loretta Sayers & Donald MacBride© March 25-
Why Pay Rent?Lloyd French ; Shemp Howard, Roscoe Ates, Ethel Sykes, Billie Leonard & Dickie WallaceMay 4Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 2 DVD
Pretty PollyLloyd French ; Polly Moran, Marjorie Main, Jane Gale, David Burns, Pats Flick and Ginger PearsonJune 1-
Serves You RightLloyd French ; Shemp Howard, Nell O’Day, Donald MacBride & Horace McMahonJune 15 Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 2 DVD
On The WagonLloyd French ; Shemp Howard, Roscoe Ates, Gertrude Madge, Lillian Pertka & Zeni VatoriJuly 1Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 2 DVD
Get Rich QuickRalph Staub ; Allen Jenkins, Eddie Shubert, Mary Treen & Herman Bing© July 6completed August 1934
Husband's HolidayRalph Staub ; music: Howard Jackson; Hobart Cavanaugh, Mary Treen, the Canovas, Jack Norton & Billy BartyJuly 6-
The Vodka BoatmenLloyd French ; The Yacht Club Boys, Gertrude Madge & Nancy EvansAugust 7 -
Watch the BirdieLloyd French ; Bob Hope, Nell O’Day, Arline Dinitz, George WattsAugust 10Top Hat DVD
Keystone HotelRalph Staub ; Joe Traub ; music: Howard Jackson; Ben Turpin, Hank Mann, Chester Conklin, Ford Sterling, Marie Prevost, Vivien Oakland, Jack Duffy, Bert RoachAugust 24-
The Officer's MessLloyd French ; Shemp Howard, Louise Squires, Horace MacMahon, Charles Kemper & Dermar PoppenOctober 19Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 2 DVD
Lonesome TrailerRalph Staub ; Joe Traub ; music: Howard Jackson; El Brendel, Edna Bennett, Eddie Schubert & Mary TreenOctober 26-
The Old Grey MayorLloyd French ; Bob Hope, Lionel Stander, Ruth Hall, George Watts & Sam Wren© November 2G Men DVD
Double ExposureLloyd French ; Bob Hope, Jules Epailly, Johnny Berkes & Loretta SayersNovember 23Gold Diggers of 1935 DVD
The Lucky SwedeRalph Staub ; music: Howard Jackson; El Brendel & Helen EricsonDecember 4-

1936

TitleDirector & performersRelease, copyright or review dateNotes
When the Cat's AwayLloyd French ; Shemp Howard, Johnny Berkes, Anita Garvin & Jean ClevelandJanuary 4Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 2 DVD
Shop TalkLloyd French ; Bob Hope, Johnny Berkes & Richard Lane© February 14The Charge of the Light Brigade DVD
Slide, Nellie, SlideMurray Roth ; Herman Bing, Paula Stone, Al Shean & Marie Wilson© February 17-
Calling All TarsLloyd French ; Bob Hope, Johnny Berkes, Oscar RaglandMarch 25Critic's Choice DVD
Absorbing JuniorLloyd French ; Shemp Howard, Johnny Berkes, Gertrude Madge, Gerie Worthing, Arthur & Morton Havel & Kenneth LundyApril 25Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 2 DVD
The Wife of the PartyLloyd French ; Ken Murray, Sassafras, George Watts, Peggy O'Donnell & Donald MacBrideJune 12-
The Oily BirdLloyd French ; Ken Murray, Oswald, Charles Withers & Harvey MoffatJuly 25Vitaphone Comedy
The Good Old PlumbertimeLloyd French ; Johnny Berkes, Hugh Cameron, Loretta Sayers, Grace Worth and Donald MacBride© August 24-
The Lyin' TamerGeorge JesselAugust 29Vitaphone Gay-ety
Dough-NutsLloyd French ; The Yacht Club Boys, Virginia McNaughton, Johnny Berkes & Jules EpaillyNovember 14Vitaphone Comedy

1937

TitleDirector & performersRelease or copyright dateNotes
Toot SweetRoy Mack ; Fifi D'Orsay & Rufe Davis© August 3Vitaphone Gay-ety
Doctor CupidLloyd French ; Ken Murray & Oswald, Gertrude Mudge, Dorothy Edwards & Phyllis CraneSeptember 4Vitaphone Comedy
One on the HouseLloyd French ; Ted, Judd & Joe McMichaelDecember 18Vitaphone Gay-ety
Under the WireLloyd French ; Joe & Asbestos, Harry Gribbon, Eddie White & Phil Silvers© December 21Vitaphone Comedy
Wedding YellsLloyd French ; music: William Lava; Ken Murray, Oswald, Jeanne Kelly, Milton Charleston & Regina WallaceDecember 28Vitaphone Comedy

1938

TitleDirector & performersRelease dateNotes
Waiting AroundLloyd French ; Frank Libuse, Jimmy Shay, Gus Raymond, Margo Brandon & the Stanley TwinsFebruary 26Vitaphone Gay-ety
Hold That BallLloyd French ; the Preisser Sisters, Bobby Pinkus, Thurston CraneApril 23Vitaphone Gay-ety
Stocks and BlondesLloyd French ; Gene Lockhart, Kathleen Lockhart, Richard Bishop, Marie Hartman & Butler HixonMay 21Vitaphone Comedy
Rise and SingRoy Mack ; Alan Cross & Henry DunnJune 25Vitaphone Gay-ety
My PopLloyd French ; Henry Armetta, Harry Burns, Anita Simpson & Claire CarletonJuly 16Vitaphone Comedy
There Goes the BrideRoy Mack ; Fifi D'Orsay & 4 McNally SistersAugust 27Vitaphone Gay-ety

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