That was how the cast of 'Seinfeld' described their show. But they were beaten to the punch in 1934 by Warner Bros. with the release of "Heat Lightning", a static and unfunny comedy/drama taken from the Broadway show of the same name.
The beginning was the best part, with Edgar Kennedy and Jane Darwell as a bickering married couple. It made you think that the best was yet to come, but no. The rest of the film is loaded with unnecessary, awkward situations and with the actors seeming ill at ease and mouthing stilted and clumsy dialogue which often falls flat. I cannot believe George Abbott had a hand in the movie script and must have been credited since he wrote the play, because this script is poorly written and lacking humor in humorous situations.
This was a shame because Warners had assembled a great cast but saddled them with a boring story which lacks action and energy. Ann Dvorak, an excellent actress, comes off as whiny and annoying and Ruth Donnelly could have sued the script writer, her comic lines were so prosaic. And a contributor mentioned 'Key Largo'?! There is no similarity at all. "Heat Lightning" ran only 44 performances on Broadway for a reason, and I'll bet it wasn't the depression. The four rating points are for the cast despite the fact they were mistreated.
The beginning was the best part, with Edgar Kennedy and Jane Darwell as a bickering married couple. It made you think that the best was yet to come, but no. The rest of the film is loaded with unnecessary, awkward situations and with the actors seeming ill at ease and mouthing stilted and clumsy dialogue which often falls flat. I cannot believe George Abbott had a hand in the movie script and must have been credited since he wrote the play, because this script is poorly written and lacking humor in humorous situations.
This was a shame because Warners had assembled a great cast but saddled them with a boring story which lacks action and energy. Ann Dvorak, an excellent actress, comes off as whiny and annoying and Ruth Donnelly could have sued the script writer, her comic lines were so prosaic. And a contributor mentioned 'Key Largo'?! There is no similarity at all. "Heat Lightning" ran only 44 performances on Broadway for a reason, and I'll bet it wasn't the depression. The four rating points are for the cast despite the fact they were mistreated.