Wrong Way Butch

The Department of Labor was behind this amusing short wherein actor/writer DAVE O'BRIEN plays a bumbling steel plant worker who makes one careless mistake after another while handling dangerous tools.

Played strictly for laughs, it also served as a public safety announcement and was rightfully Oscar nominated in the best short film category. Like all of these Pete Smith specialties, it's well scripted and fun to watch.

A hammering distraction has him hurting his nail when a pretty blonde walks by; his tie gets caught in machinery at the machine shop while wearing loose clothing; he hits the pedal on several machines, activating them before he can get out of the way; gets struck by flying pieces of hot metal at the welding shop; and takes a short cut through a plating room with disastrous results.

Through it all, O'Brien does physical comedy as well as anyone in the business and is delightful as "wrong way Butch."