Things We Can Do Without (1953) User Reviews

Dave O'Brien takes his share of pratfalls again...

[Doylenf · 6/10 · 22 March 2009]

Another in a series of Pete Smith Specialties that has the energetic DAVE O'BRIEN demonstrating how not to deal with the inconveniences of modern conveniences, such as armless chairs, trays that come out from the wall, and desk drawers that are supposed to slide open at the magic touch.

Actually, I expected more when I saw the title THINGS WE CAN DO WITHOUT but this short flies by swiftly with one sight gag after another, each time providing a chuckle to watch how skillfully O'Brien handles all the falls. One mishap has him even punching a hole in the wall when his chair rapidly goes backward as he tugs at a drawer.

Amusing stuff--not one of the best of the series but fun to watch.

Lesser Smith short

[Michael_Elliott · 25 February 2008]

Things We Can Do Without (1951)

** (out of 4)

Pete Smith short tells us what we use everyday yet might not really need. We get all sorts of slapstick comedy worked around an arm less chair, mechanical tables and various other items, which of course turn crazy and provide the laughs. There's some nice laughs here including a great sequence with a mirror.

If you're interested in this or any other Pete Smith short then keep your eyes on Turner Classic Movies as they play their quite often. Most of the Smith shorts are worth viewing at least once.

Classic Humorous Short!

[gavin6942 · 8/10 · 5 March 2013]

A Pete Smith Specialty shorts series entry. Dave demonstrates a variety of household items and furniture which, while modern, is much more trouble than the progress is worth.

While only 9 minutes, this is a pretty spectacular little film if you like slapstick comedy. Taking the idea of inconvenient furniture to an extreme, Dave O'Brien falls over a lot, breaks things and at one point even flies through a wall. I love it.

As the short goes on, it gets more extreme, which only makes it more funny. We get from a man falling over a lot to a convenience of actually having an old man stored in a wall so he could be taken out to play bridge. Weird stuff... and makes me wonder why no one plays bridge anymore.

"Effortless modern living," he says.

[slymusic · 22 July 2010]

"Things We Can Do Without" is a very funny MGM short subject with plenty of great slapstick! The title is a very clear indication of what this film is about, as our "hero" Thaddeus E. Thud III struggles endlessly with ordinary household articles that do not function as they should and drive him nuts. The narration, by some Smith named Pete, just makes the proceedings even funnier.

Here are my favorite moments from "Things We Can Do Without". Thaddeus reaches for a candy bowl and falls out of his chair. He climbs a wall in order to pull down the curtains, but he falls backward and crashes onto a table. He tries to open an uncooperative desk drawer and crashes through a back wall.

"Things We Can Do Without" can be found as a bonus item on the DVD for "The Naked Spur" (1953), a feature-length film that is very, very different from this short subject film.