The Cat's-Paw (1934)

Lloyd Talkie. - The Cat's-Paw review by Steve

Dated low budget comedy which is interesting for its cynical, satirical account of corruption in American politics. It has points in common with Frank Capra’s pro-New Deal pictures of the late ‘30s. Harold Lloyd plays an ingenuous, humourless stooge who unintentionally gets elected mayor of a Californian city usually run by the mob.

So the novice attempts to remove graft from the machinery of local government, which results in chaos. Meanwhile he naively looks for a wife among the sardonic dames of the speakeasies. Having been raised with missionaries in China the patsy takes inspiration from eastern proverbs.

 The main drawback is the representation of his Chinese American cohorts is racist, if standard for the ‘30s. Also, while Harold was one of the standout comedians of the silents, he’s lacks the charm (and looks) to be the star of a screwball romance. Though everyone else is fine, including Una Merkel in the Jean Arthur type role.

There’s an interesting scene in a speakeasy with Harold flummoxed by the stripper and the girls from the chorus line. Which somehow escaped the production code. This could easily be from a story by Damon Runyon. It’s a minor comedy with many flaws, but still viable entertainment.