Imagine the shock of younger viewers who grew up with no TV commercials promoting various cigarette brands if they see this Edgar Kennedy film short. To be sure, some of the drama in all those folks lining up around the block just to buy a pack of smokes was somewhat over done, but chain smokers actually did exist at one time and were just as neurotic about getting their habit taken care of as Uncle Wilbur (Jimmy Conlin). Having never smoked myself I can only commiserate with Uncle Wilbur just so much. I have to say though, wife Florence (Florence Lake) had a pretty creative response for roll-your-own cigarettes, the curtain rod solution looked like it would have worked admirably. One thing the picture had me do was check out the use of the word 'inflammable' as indicated on Brother's (Jack Rice) spot remover concoction. Would you believe inflammable and flammable both mean the same thing?!
3 Reviews
Smoke'Em if You Got'Em
ExplorerDS678920 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
In reality, addiction is no laughing matter, whether it be alcohol, drugs, or even cigarettes. However, the mere thought of what lengths some people will go to appease that addiction can make for a rousing situation comedy. Take Edgar Kennedy for example, when a rich, chain-smoking relative pays him an unexpected visit, he sees it as a way to finally rid himself of Mother and Brother, and all it will cost him is a pack of smokes. Should be easy, right? Well, as join our hapless hero, he sees Mother and Brother moving his things out of his own room in order to free it up for Wilbur, Florence's rich uncle. Edgar is none too pleased about this news, until Brother suggests Uncle Wilbur might include he and Mother in his will, so he's all for letting Uncle Pennybags stay. Uncle Wilbur is a tremendously wealthy and endlessly eccentric man with a nebbish, neurotic personality and he smokes like a chimney... make that two chimneys. He's a very nervous man, what with so many corporations to run and the fact that the country is currently facing a cigarette shortage. I'm guessing this is because of the war, gotta send all the smokes to the front lines. Edgar suggests he put Brother in charge of one of his companies, however Wilbur asserts that one only appreciates what one works for. That's when he suggests buying a filling station so Brother could work his way up, but of course, the weak nimrod is terrified at the prospect of doing manual labor. Regardless, Wilbur decrees he'll cut a check in the morning, and they all go to sleep... well, except for Edgar, since Brother's snoring keeps him up. Not to mention, Wilbur finds himself out of cigarettes, thanks to Mother and Florence spontaneously helping themselves to some the previous night. Uncle Woody Allen has no qualms waking Edgar and asking where he keeps his cigarettes, and I like how the hypocrite regards smoking a pipe as a filthy habit. Pot calling the kettle black, Wilbur. Edgar tells him to buzz off, but hears that if he can't get a nicotine fix, the deal is off. Under this threat, Edgar decrees he will get him cigarettes in the morning.
Unfortunately, going down to the corner for a pack isn't as easy as it sounds. Anyone who has lived during a shortage, like the infamous TP shortage of 2020 knows it will be an uphill battle... and that hill is covered in molten lava that you have to trek barefooted. Edgar tries his luck at the cigarette machine, it's like a vending machine, except it vends cigarettes. For some inexplicable reason, the machine doesn't work for him. Well, I know why, because he's Edgar and because the short would be over otherwise. A crowd of people form at the machine, constantly making Edgar slam into it. After so many bangs, the machine says "tilted" like it's a freakin' pinball machine. However, once the tobacco deprived citizens realize the drug store is selling what they so desire, they make a beeline for it, and then make an even longer line around the block. So, Edgar goes to take his place in line and some jerk thinks it's a great time for pranks, so he drops a carton of smokes, making Edgar jump out of line to get it and inside is nothing but a paper that says "sucker", with the joker taking Ed's place in line. Why is Edgar the only person who fell for that? Was everybody else in line in on the prank? Maybe, because they all laugh at him and a jerk cop makes him go to the back. Worse yet, a painter puts a ladder where Edgar has to pass under. I wouldn't sweat it, Edgar, with the way your luck goes, walking under a ladder would mean GOOD luck. It probably would have, since Ed goes around the ladder and the jerks push forward, forcing him to the back again. Geez, what is this, a school cafeteria line? It must be, because these people act like children. Naturally, when Edgar finally gets to the counter, the store is all sold out. But all may not be lost, as the cashier suggests rolling cigarettes, even demonstrating how easy it is. So easy a child could do it... which means Edgar, Florence and Mother will bollix it up. All the while Uncle Wilbur is crying out for a cigarette, probably willing to sell his soul to the Devil, but something tells me he may have done that already. And then, a miracle happens: Florence FINALLY hits upon a helpful idea, and a genius one at that: roll the cigarette paper around a curtain rod, pour in the tobacco and seal it up! Good for her. That filling station is as good as Brother's... so, of course, the big jerk sets about sabotaging their efforts. Why? It's your own business, dude. You'll make a mint. So what if you have to actually work? What a bum. He laces a mixture of spot remover and rubber bands and switches it with the tobacco, then he purposely ruins the cigarettes Edgar and Florence made. The former rightfully strangles him like Bart Simpson, and when Mother grabs a frying pan to subdue Edgar, she accidentally hits Wilbur on the noggin. The old man expresses his intent to leave and that the deal was off. Desperate to save face and finally rid himself of his despicable brother in-law, Edgar rolls another cig and gives it to Wilbur, which actually catches fire in his mouth and nearly poisons him. What some people won't do to get out of working for a living. Wilbur departs, and Edgar enjoys himself an exploding cigarette.
In order to put things into perspective here, this film was made in the 1940s. Everybody smoked. They used to say smoking was good for you... that is, until all those people died of lung cancer and emphysema, at which point they declared smoking as no longer good for you. Cigarette ads were pulled from TV in the 1970s, and to this day, activists like Rob Reiner are trying to get smoking banned from public venues. For me, I've never smoked, I have no intention of doing so, because I know smoking is bad for you, and it's repellent to people around you. Having said that, this short film really portrays smokers in both a satirical and realistic point of view. Wilbur's behavior is similar to how real life smokers act, especially if they have to go so long without a fix. Those pushy people in line at the drug store are also indicative of how selfish addicts can really be. What No Cigarettes is one of my favorite Edgar Kennedy shorts; it's entertaining, the cast gives a good performance, and it doesn't portray smoking in a positive light. I mean, I'm surprised Wilbur doesn't hack up a lung with the amount of smoking he does. Though, I'm going to assume that Brother's poison cigarette helped him kick his habit. Maybe he quit cold turkey, or he switched to a pipe... or he died. Either way, I do recommend this short. Predictable and silly, but an enjoyable watch.
Unfortunately, going down to the corner for a pack isn't as easy as it sounds. Anyone who has lived during a shortage, like the infamous TP shortage of 2020 knows it will be an uphill battle... and that hill is covered in molten lava that you have to trek barefooted. Edgar tries his luck at the cigarette machine, it's like a vending machine, except it vends cigarettes. For some inexplicable reason, the machine doesn't work for him. Well, I know why, because he's Edgar and because the short would be over otherwise. A crowd of people form at the machine, constantly making Edgar slam into it. After so many bangs, the machine says "tilted" like it's a freakin' pinball machine. However, once the tobacco deprived citizens realize the drug store is selling what they so desire, they make a beeline for it, and then make an even longer line around the block. So, Edgar goes to take his place in line and some jerk thinks it's a great time for pranks, so he drops a carton of smokes, making Edgar jump out of line to get it and inside is nothing but a paper that says "sucker", with the joker taking Ed's place in line. Why is Edgar the only person who fell for that? Was everybody else in line in on the prank? Maybe, because they all laugh at him and a jerk cop makes him go to the back. Worse yet, a painter puts a ladder where Edgar has to pass under. I wouldn't sweat it, Edgar, with the way your luck goes, walking under a ladder would mean GOOD luck. It probably would have, since Ed goes around the ladder and the jerks push forward, forcing him to the back again. Geez, what is this, a school cafeteria line? It must be, because these people act like children. Naturally, when Edgar finally gets to the counter, the store is all sold out. But all may not be lost, as the cashier suggests rolling cigarettes, even demonstrating how easy it is. So easy a child could do it... which means Edgar, Florence and Mother will bollix it up. All the while Uncle Wilbur is crying out for a cigarette, probably willing to sell his soul to the Devil, but something tells me he may have done that already. And then, a miracle happens: Florence FINALLY hits upon a helpful idea, and a genius one at that: roll the cigarette paper around a curtain rod, pour in the tobacco and seal it up! Good for her. That filling station is as good as Brother's... so, of course, the big jerk sets about sabotaging their efforts. Why? It's your own business, dude. You'll make a mint. So what if you have to actually work? What a bum. He laces a mixture of spot remover and rubber bands and switches it with the tobacco, then he purposely ruins the cigarettes Edgar and Florence made. The former rightfully strangles him like Bart Simpson, and when Mother grabs a frying pan to subdue Edgar, she accidentally hits Wilbur on the noggin. The old man expresses his intent to leave and that the deal was off. Desperate to save face and finally rid himself of his despicable brother in-law, Edgar rolls another cig and gives it to Wilbur, which actually catches fire in his mouth and nearly poisons him. What some people won't do to get out of working for a living. Wilbur departs, and Edgar enjoys himself an exploding cigarette.
In order to put things into perspective here, this film was made in the 1940s. Everybody smoked. They used to say smoking was good for you... that is, until all those people died of lung cancer and emphysema, at which point they declared smoking as no longer good for you. Cigarette ads were pulled from TV in the 1970s, and to this day, activists like Rob Reiner are trying to get smoking banned from public venues. For me, I've never smoked, I have no intention of doing so, because I know smoking is bad for you, and it's repellent to people around you. Having said that, this short film really portrays smokers in both a satirical and realistic point of view. Wilbur's behavior is similar to how real life smokers act, especially if they have to go so long without a fix. Those pushy people in line at the drug store are also indicative of how selfish addicts can really be. What No Cigarettes is one of my favorite Edgar Kennedy shorts; it's entertaining, the cast gives a good performance, and it doesn't portray smoking in a positive light. I mean, I'm surprised Wilbur doesn't hack up a lung with the amount of smoking he does. Though, I'm going to assume that Brother's poison cigarette helped him kick his habit. Maybe he quit cold turkey, or he switched to a pipe... or he died. Either way, I do recommend this short. Predictable and silly, but an enjoyable watch.
One Creative Scene Makes it Worth Watching
Michael_Elliott29 April 2016
What, No Cirgarettes? (1945)
** (out of 4)
Edgar Kennedy is forced to share a bed with his brother-in-law (Jack Rice) when Uncle Wilbur (Jimmy Conlin) comes for a visit. Wilbur offers to start a business to get the brother-in-law a job as long as Edgar keeps him fully supplied with cigarettes. The only problem is that there's a shortage so Edgar must do whatever he can to find some.
WHAT, NO CIGARETTES? isn't the greatest comedy ever made. Heck, it's not even a good film but there are some very creative moments that make it worth viewing. The highlight of the film is the sequence where Edgar is out trying to find cigarettes and keeps getting pushed to the back of the line. This sequence was quite creative and especially for this series. The stuff dealing with the uncle's frantic smoking issue was also rather funny. The first portion of the film is rather dull as once again it's the typical Edgar versus the family comedy that was in this series for a decade.
** (out of 4)
Edgar Kennedy is forced to share a bed with his brother-in-law (Jack Rice) when Uncle Wilbur (Jimmy Conlin) comes for a visit. Wilbur offers to start a business to get the brother-in-law a job as long as Edgar keeps him fully supplied with cigarettes. The only problem is that there's a shortage so Edgar must do whatever he can to find some.
WHAT, NO CIGARETTES? isn't the greatest comedy ever made. Heck, it's not even a good film but there are some very creative moments that make it worth viewing. The highlight of the film is the sequence where Edgar is out trying to find cigarettes and keeps getting pushed to the back of the line. This sequence was quite creative and especially for this series. The stuff dealing with the uncle's frantic smoking issue was also rather funny. The first portion of the film is rather dull as once again it's the typical Edgar versus the family comedy that was in this series for a decade.
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