VERY MUCH STANDARD and not at all original in its story, action and gag inventory, SLAPPILY MARRIED nonetheless does serve a definite useful purpose in the history of the then declining market for the one and two reeler theatrical comedies. We could classify this as a sort of "light-bulb" movie; as the lead could have been changed very easily.
HOWEVER, IN THIS case the lead was one former burlesque comic, Joe De Rita, who would late in the following decade would gain a share of screen immortality as the sixth member of the Three Stooges.
AS WE HAVE already stated, this short is nothing out of the ordinary, bringing nothing new or unusual to the table. It is a short subject that truly reflects the style of the post war period of cheap budgets at the tight-wad capital of the movie world, Columbia Pictures Short Subjects Department. Whereas the same studio's product made in the 1930's and '40's up to and including the World War II years, featured a great deal of outdoors filming and freely availed itself to using sets, costuming and props from then Columbia features, they now appeared to be confined to some very bland sound-stage rooms.
ALTHOUGH WE MAY well have seemed to be overly critical, our attitude and critical evaluations of the work of Joe De Rita in rising above the constraints of the "typical" Columbia sound short is quite a different story. Being the old trooper and consummate pro that he was, he did manage to rise above any of those aforementioned disadvantages.
IT IS INDEED Joe's movie and he carries just about the first third of he action with his less than gourmet chef treatment of the kitchen. Working solo (with the exception of brief interventions by his "Mrs." (Christine McIntyre-lucky Joe!)he milks each gag to its fullest-be it with any mechanical devices, a bakers' dozen of eggs or any uncooperative cabinet doors. Moods change rapidly as they are reflected by his facial expressions and flopping hair. (curiously, De Rita's appearance combines Curly's physique, Shemp's hairdo with a relatively deadpan expression.)
THE REST OF the story takes us to his ladies' dress shop, where more interplay with props are displayed; all leading up to the inevitable dawning of misunderstanding. In this case it's a double dose involving Joe's wife and a lovey-dovey engaged couple (Dorothy Granger and Dick Wessel); all of which leads to a women only hotel, confrontation with that same couple and an ongoing dispute with a very butch female hotel guard/detective/bouncer.
THE SHORT WAS probably a sort of test, a "pilot" for a De Rita series of comedies that never materialized. His date with Columbia Pictures' destiny would come along after the unhappy experiment with Joe Besser as the 3rd Stooge put an end to their long two reeler run. De Rita would become "Curly-Joe" and costar in those kiddie-oriented features, TV & personal appearances and animation work for the rest of his life.
