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Only Saps Work

Only Saps Work

You Just Know It's Funny!

1930 1h 17mComedyCrime

Rubber-legged comedian Leon Errol made his talkie starring bow in Paramount's Only Saps Work. Based on a play by Owen Davis Sr., the film casts Errol as James Wilson, a kleptomaniac who starts with picking pockets and ends up robbing a bank. Wilson's friend Lawrence Payne (Richard Arlen) inadvertently aids our hero during one of his heists, ending up in deep doo-doo with the law. Before Wilson is able to extricate Payne from his dilemma for the sake of heroine Barbara Tanner (Mary Brian), he pauses long enough to pose as a private eye -- and even gives bellboy Oscar (Stu Erwin) tips on how to spot a crook! If only all of Leon Errol's feature films had been as consistently hilarious as Only Saps Work.

3.0/5

TMDB score· 3 votes

Synopsis

Rubber-legged comedian Leon Errol made his talkie starring bow in Paramount's Only Saps Work. Based on a play by Owen Davis Sr., the film casts Errol as James Wilson, a kleptomaniac who starts with picking pockets and ends up robbing a bank. Wilson's friend Lawrence Payne (Richard Arlen) inadvertently aids our hero during one of his heists, ending up in deep doo-doo with the law. Before Wilson is able to extricate Payne from his dilemma for the sake of heroine Barbara Tanner (Mary Brian), he pauses long enough to pose as a private eye -- and even gives bellboy Oscar (Stu Erwin) tips on how to spot a crook! If only all of Leon Errol's feature films had been as consistently hilarious as Only Saps Work.

The vibe

robberydetectivecon manstolen moneyhypochondriaccrookattractionbank robberybellhop  comedy routine

Behind it

Cyril GardnerCyril GardnerDirectorEdwin H. KnopfEdwin H. KnopfDirectorSam MintzScreenplayPercy HeathScreenplayJoseph L. MankiewiczJoseph L. MankiewiczScreenplayRex WimpyCinematography

Cast

Leon ErrolLeon ErrolJames Wilson
Richard ArlenRichard ArlenLarry Payne
Mary BrianMary BrianBarbara Tanner
Stuart ErwinStuart ErwinOscar
Anderson LawlerAnderson LawlerHorace Baldwin
Charley GrapewinCharley GrapewinSimeon Tanner
Clarence BurtonClarence BurtonSergeant Burns (uncredited)
Nora CecilNora CecilMrs. Partridge (uncredited)
George ChandlerGeorge ChandlerElevator Operator (uncredited)
G. Pat CollinsG. Pat CollinsRafferty (uncredited)
Clifford DempseyClifford DempseyDetective Smith (uncredited)
Charles GiblynCharles GiblynDr. Jasper (uncredited)
Charlie HallCharlie HallWaiter (uncredited)
George IrvingGeorge IrvingDr. White (uncredited)
Fred KelseyFred KelseyMurphy (uncredited)
Jack RichardsonJack RichardsonChef (uncredited)

Director

Cyril Gardner, Edwin H. Knopf

Writers

Sam Mintz, Percy Heath, Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Release date

5 Dec 1930

Runtime

1h 17m

Studio

Paramount Pictures, Paramount Publix Corp.

Language

English

Country

United States of America

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