An early Vitaphone film, this Warner Brothers short apparently was one created using a very complicated system through which an accompanying record was synchronized with a movie camera. There were several serious setbacks for such a system (such as if a film skipped--it became out of sync for the rest of the film plus the records quickly wore out--and 20 showings was the normal life-span of the records) and even though it produced excellent sound, it was eventually replaced. The last of the Vitaphone films were made in 1930, then the studio switched to the standard sound-on-film system.
Wow. This is a very unusual Vitaphone short. Instead of the usual big band music or song and dance teams, Shaw and Lee were the strangest musical routine of the Vitaphone series--or at least among the weirdest. For the most part, you need to see this to appreciate their unusual and humorous singing routines.
Shaw and Lee both dress similarly with derbies and suits and sing almost like automatons. What makes this funny is that their songs are just awful--with lyrics that catch you off guard--such as their song "Don't Forget to Breathe or You'll Die"! In addition, they tell bad jokes that are given with the same sort of delivery--almost always staring into the camera. I liked the one about the people who fell off the roof and weren't hurt. It's really funny and I give it major kudos for staying in character so well.
Of all the shorts included with the DVD set for "The Jazz Singer", this is my favorite! See this film--it's one you won't forget.
UPDATE: I just watched this one again...and STILL laughed at their terrible jokes!