I would guess the idea behind this very short (six minutes) short feature is two-fold: introduce a couple of actors who might develop into something more, and give an uplifting good message to those who were down-and-out during the beginnings of the Great Depression.
Well, one of the actors certainly made it big: a young dark-haired Spencer Tracy! Yes, Spencer Tracy in a six-minute movie. Amazing! He shows his talent, too, sounding as natural as can be. Playing his wife "Ellen" is Katherine Alexander. She's okay, but obviously didn't become a star like Tracy. However, she had steady work as an actress.
Anyway, Tracy plays "Guy," a down-and-out husband who is very down on himself and whines and whines about his jobless situation, not being able to take care of his wife and little girl. His wife warns him, "Guy, your getting hard-boiled again." She is the optimist in the family. "We'll get back on our feet again and back on easy street," she tells him.
He goes out to look for a job, but since it's cold outside, goes to his old trunk and takes out his old, heavy Army coat. Guy sees a gun and takes that with him, too. His wife discovers that as he leaves and panics, thinking her desperate husband might do anything.
In no time, Ellen hears the police and gunshots. Her husband comes home with food and a promised doll for the young child. The wife now is really panicking....until he explains he bought the stuff by hocking the gun. End of story. That was a nice twist and a nice message.
Well, one of the actors certainly made it big: a young dark-haired Spencer Tracy! Yes, Spencer Tracy in a six-minute movie. Amazing! He shows his talent, too, sounding as natural as can be. Playing his wife "Ellen" is Katherine Alexander. She's okay, but obviously didn't become a star like Tracy. However, she had steady work as an actress.
Anyway, Tracy plays "Guy," a down-and-out husband who is very down on himself and whines and whines about his jobless situation, not being able to take care of his wife and little girl. His wife warns him, "Guy, your getting hard-boiled again." She is the optimist in the family. "We'll get back on our feet again and back on easy street," she tells him.
He goes out to look for a job, but since it's cold outside, goes to his old trunk and takes out his old, heavy Army coat. Guy sees a gun and takes that with him, too. His wife discovers that as he leaves and panics, thinking her desperate husband might do anything.
In no time, Ellen hears the police and gunshots. Her husband comes home with food and a promised doll for the young child. The wife now is really panicking....until he explains he bought the stuff by hocking the gun. End of story. That was a nice twist and a nice message.