I Don't Remember

Back in the 1920s, Harry Langdon made some dandy comedies...mostly with Frank Capra directing. However, Langdon apparently wasn't very bright...and he left the studio to do films his way. His way was apparently code for 'dull', and the shorts he made post-Capra were pretty limp. Of all these, his last shorts were for Columia....and this isn't surprising as this studio made a habit out of hiring folks who were down and out. This was, believe it or not, true of the Three Stooges...who bombed in most of their shots with MGM. In addition, Columbia hired Buster Keaton and Charley Chase when they both were down-and-out....and this was true with quite a few other comedians of the era.

"I Don't Remember" is a film I expected to dislike...and not just because Langdon stars in it. No, the reason is that like most Columbia shorts, the studio remade it...and "Moron Than Off" (starring Sterling Holloway) was completely unfunny and awful. Why? Because the big joke is that the leading man has a traumatic brain injury and can't remember much of anything. Funny? Good grief, no! There's also a funny(??) bit where Harry tries to kill himself and then changes his mind and tries to kill his friend. What were these people thinking?!?! Now there are a FEW funny parts of the film...such as when Harry and his friend are chasing after the runaway sweepstakes ticket. And, Langdon was better in this film than Holloway was in the remake...though this is faint praise.