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Other interesting aspects of 'Beginner's Luck'

posted 12 years ago by doug78595
7 replies | jump to latest

One of the things I've heard repeatedly over the years was the type of comedy that is used in the ending of "BL" does not work well using a woman as the object.But I always thought the Roach studio had used that type of comedy before not so much with the rascals but certainly with Thelma Todd and Laurel and Hardy.Thelma Todd rarely had her dress on her and remember the L&H short where they were white washing a building and a pretty girl walks by and drops something and she bends over to pick it up and Stan white washes her behind.Spanky's mother not only gets the humiliating factor of loosing her dress as a theater audience watch and howel with approval as the dress moves higher,but her freezing on stage so the audience can continue their laughter at her expense finally Spanky wheels the stage prop into place with her head on an animals body and Spank's mother is now degraded and she has lost all her dignity all in a comedic effort.I say that type of comedy used in "BL" is a masterpiece of the comedic farce.

[–] onestooges 12 years ago

Yes,that's something i've heard too,comedic farce doesn't work well using a woman.Well I think that "BL" kills that idea.Sure we've all seen that shorts from the day with a very pretty blonde girl walking accross the street and somehow her dress gets caught on something and rips off her and all the bystanders look on and laugh.Well Spanky's mother not only has the misfortune of having her dress get caught on the curtain she freezes in place ,so the show goes on,and then that prop where she has a dog's (or more properly a lioness's) body attached to her head.I do agree with you on this one Mr. Doug "BL" kills that concept.

[–] doug78595 12 years ago

Another interesting aspect of "BL" is whether or not Spanky's mother deserved her fate.I hear this one often and I say to myself all the time It doesn't matter if she deserved it or not it happened to her period end of story.Is the way I feel ,sure I've gotten into those discussions before myself but that's how i really feel.

Another point is no one really knows how to describe the character of Spanky's mother ,I've heard her been called aggressive,pushy,a stage mother,misguided,a culture vulture,a glory seeker,a mother looking out for the best interest of her son,a villaness,a bitch so on and on .No one is clear as to what type of character Spanky's mother is.Everyone has their own opinion,

[–] freebergjason 12 years ago

That's guaranteeded !!!!! "Beginner's Luck" is the masterpiece of comedic farce.I know nothing that even comes close.OK the Roach studio went to town on her character to strike back at the stage mother's they had to deal with over the years they did a truly great job of it.Spanky's mother is no spring chicken 20 yr old that people want to see loose their dress but what people have said to me was because she's a mother it adds so much to her unraveling.Someone said to me any attractive woman who has a dress hem caught on a rising curtain turns into a sexy scene.That fact Spanky's mother is a mother a should be shown some deal of respect is thrown out the window and they treat her with complete irreverence.

[–] steveb789 12 years ago

I'll agree that "Beginner's luck" is the winner of the use of comedic farce.I've heard or read that she is humiliated but I'll agree with the other guys her comeupeance goes much further than a plain humiliation as she kneels there in at state of suspended animation and the prop goes into place it's more degrading than humiliation.

[–] freebergjason 12 years ago

No one has mentioned it yet but the stage prop made a bitch out of her.

[–] doug78595 12 years ago

The whole idea she looses her dress on stage then to freeze up and wind up with that stage prop under her neck will make her much more humble of a person and try to understand the feelings of her son that he didn't want to go on stage.The viewer thinks that this will be a very good lesson for the mother even thou it is a very embarassing one for her.

[–] bigboy171975 12 years ago

I always thought there was a shock element to it.There was a sadistic element to it.Spanky's mother has to watch from the stage wings as Spanky is laughed at and can't seem to right the ship.When she tries to put a stop to it the tables are turned and she is now the object of the cruel laughter and there is nothing she or Spanky can do about it.There is a irrevrence to it as a mother who should be shown some degree of respect for being a mother and an adult is humiliated.There is an element that is distrubing to some people.

But If you want to watch the premier comedic farce it has to be "Beginner's Luck".The viewer knows it's a little overboard but it sure hits the spot.