She Gets the Laughs

For my money, She Gets Her Man, released by Universal in 1945, is Joan Davis' best comedy feature. There are laughs aplenty, and scarcely a dull moment, in its 72-minute running time.

Joan is cast as Jane Pilkington, daughter of the late "Ma" Pilkington, former police chief of a small town, Clayton. The town is in an uproar thanks to a blowgun-wielding serial killer who attacks local citizens with poison darts. Since her mother was a top-notch crimefighter, Jane is just the gal to restore law and order in Clayton, right? Well...

She Gets Her Man is a terrific showcase for Joan's finely honed comedic skills and impeccable timing. It's not an A-list film comedy with an all-star cast and a generous budget -- Joan never got those -- but I'd be surprised if most viewers didn't get at least a few chuckles from it. I certainly did. The reviewer for Box Office Digest concurred, saying, "Joan Davis comes into her own ... The laughs are consistently present and plenteous."

One prominent comedian who didn't find the film amusing was Harold Lloyd, who after taking a good look promptly contacted his lawyer. For that story, as well as an in-depth look at its star's life and career, check out Joan Davis: America's Queen of Film, Radio and Television Comedy.

"Soap" in Your Eyes

I've rarely watched Soap since its original 1977-81 run on ABC, but A.S. Berman's Soap: The Inside Story of the Sitcom That Broke All the Rules (BearManor Media) does an excellent job of reminding me why I liked this quirky, innovative show so much.

Highly controversial in its day, Soap could be not only hysterically funny but surprisingly touching, and had a thoroughbred cast brimming with stage-trained actors. Behind it all was creator Susan Harris, one of the most distinctive voices in television comedy.

Berman's book is impressively researched, drawing on substantive interviews with cast and crew members. His critique of the show candidly addresses its flaws, but also celebrates what it did best, while acknowledging the talent and drive that went into its creation. And the detailed episode guide will have you chuckling as you recall some of the show's best moments.

Soap is a show that well deserves a book-length tribute and assessment. A.S. Berman has delivered it.