''Dummy Ache'' is a 1936 American short

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Leslie Goodwins Leslie Goodwins (17 September 1899 – 8 January 1969) was an English film director and screenwriter. He directed nearly 100 films between 1926 and 1967, notably 27 features and shorts with Leon Errol, including the Mexican Spitfire series. ...

. It was nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...

at the

9th Academy Awards The 9th Academy Awards were held on March 4, 1937, at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California to honor films released in 1936. They were hosted by George Jessel, with music by the Victor Young Orchestra, with Spike Jones on drums. This ...

in 1936 for Best Short Subject (Two-Reel). The

Academy Film Archive The Academy Film Archive is part of the Academy Foundation, established in 1944 with the purpose of organizing and overseeing the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' educational and cultural activities, including the preservation of mot ...

preserved ''Dummy Ache'' in 2013.

Plot

Florence Kennedy has arranged a rehearsal for a part in a play for an amateur dramatic society at a fellow actor's home, but wishes to keep it secret from her husband Edgar, who leaves before the rehearsal begins. Edgar is suspicious about his wife's behaviour and soon afterwards follows to spy on Florence with the help of a friendly cab driver. The play itself is about a clandestine affair,with Florence appearing as one of the lovers involved, with the man being shot dead, though a dummy replaces the actor in the scene as it is thrown down onto the ground. Edgar misconstrues this as a real life affair and murder involving Florence while seeing it through a window, and vows to help his wife "to the bitter end", locking her in a large cupboard. Unaware that the body itself is a prop dummy, Edgar carries it away in a large basket and plans to dispose it to help his wife, still not realising it is a dummy. After various scrapes with several cops and local townspeople who think he is a murderer and capture him, Florence eventually catches up with Edgar to explain the full story to him, the cops and townspeople, revealing it was a prop dummy used in a rehearsal for a play.

Cast

Edgar Kennedy Edgar Livingston Kennedy (April 26, 1890 – November 9, 1948) was an American comedic character actor who appeared in at least 500 films during the silent and sound eras. Professionally, he was known as "Slow Burn", owing to his ability to por ...

- Edgar *

Florence Lake Florence Lake Owens (born Florence Silverlake; November 27, 1904 – April 11, 1980) was an American actress best known as the leading lady in most of the Edgar Kennedy comedy shorts. Early life Florence Lake (née Silverlake) was born on ...

- Florence *

Jack Rice Jack Rice (born Earl Clifford Rice; May 14, 1893 – December 14, 1968) was an American actor best known for appearing as the scrounging, freeloading brother-in-law in Edgar Kennedy's series of short domestic comedy films at the RKO studio ...

- Florence's Brother *

Dot Farley Dorothea "Dot" Farley (February 6, 1881 – May 2, 1971) was an American film actress who appeared in 280 motion pictures from 1910 to 1950. She was also known as Dorothy Farley. Biography Born in Chicago, Dorothea Farley was the daughter of ...

- Florence's Mother *

George J. Lewis George J. Lewis (December 10, 1903December 8, 1995) was a Mexican-born actor who appeared in many films and eventually TV series from the 1920s through the 1960s, usually specializing in westerns. He is probably best known for playing Don Aleja ...

- The Actor *

Lucille Ball Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedian, producer, and studio executive. She was recognized by ''Time (magazine), Time'' in 2020 as one of the most influential women of the 20th century for h ...

- The Actress * Harry Bowen - The Cabbie *

Billy Franey William Gerald Franey (June 23, 1889 – December 6, 1940) was an American film actor. Biography Born in Chicago in 1889, Franey appeared in more than 400 films between 1914 and 1941, mostly playing comedic roles. He was an actor of disheve ...

- Man with Pitchfork * Bobby Burns - Bit Role (uncredited)

References

External links

* 1936 films RKO Pictures short films American black-and-white films Films directed by Leslie Goodwins 1936 comedy films 1936 short films American comedy short films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films English-language comedy short films {{short-comedy-film-stub