The Meanest Gal in Town

Zasu Pitts owns a dry goods store. She's engaged to El Brendel, who owns a barber shop that on a good day, there's as much money in the till when he closes as when he opened. Then stranded actress Pert Kelton sets up as manicurist in his shop and business booms. Miss Pitts is jealous, and takes in as partner a big firm fronted by Skeets Gallagher, which Brendel advises against. Gallagher's firm freezes her out.

While I usually enjoy Miss Pitts, as well as James Gleason, who plays a fifth wheel to this plot, Brendel and Miss Kelton annoy me. Add in the general thrust of the film, which is clearly intended for small-town audiences, and this movie does not appeal to me at all. Perhaps it did poorly at the box office; at any rate, it was writer-director Russell Mack's last time wielding the megaphone. He had begun in vaudeville, then went on the legitimate stage as an actor and director. His first movie credit was Rio Rita, and he was on his way for a while. After this movie, he returned to the East Coast, where he managed a theater in Newark, NJ. He died in 1972 at the age of 79.

This movie is hilarious!! Especially Pert Kelton and James Gleason--those two are a hoot to watch in this movie!!

Considering this is back in the 1930's--the risque talk is that more astonishing!!

A very good little comedy.

A small town barber hires a flirtatious out of work actress as his new manicurist - much to the chagrin of his longtime girlfriend.

Undeservedly obscure, THE MEANEST GAL IN TOWN boasts plenty of pre-Production Code sauciness and several funny performances. It is a good example of a very competent little comedy which fell through the cracks into movie limbo.

At the heart of the film, ZaSu Pitts & El Brendel make unlikely, but completely compatible, comedic companions. Fluttery fingered & vague, Miss Pitts brings her considerable experience into playing a businesswoman who is very tired of waiting ten years for her beau to propose marriage. Gentle, good-natured dialect comedian Brendel - the Swedish accent was fake - enlivened a handful of early 1930's films with his genial humor. He was always enjoyable to watch and his performance here is no exception, as he portrays a fellow whose greatest ambition is to have enough clients to enable him to add a second barber chair to his shop.

James Gleason scores as the local ladies' man, always ready with the sly innuendo. Pert Kelton practically steals the show as the flirty tart who knows how to get exactly what she wants from most men. Skeets Gallagher is perfect as the brash salesman who almost trumps her ace.

Movie mavens will recognize John Carradine as a stranded actor, Robert McKenzie as a hotel manager, Harry Holmes as the mayor & Vera Lewis as a lady at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon - all uncredited.

Chris Peterson (El Brendel) is an unsuccessful barber in a small town. His fiancée of ten years is Tillie Prescott (Zasu Pitts), a hardworking woman who just can't wait to get married. Chris wants to prove he is successful by obtaining a second chair in his barber shop before tying the knot, but Tillie is impatient. She is constantly taken advantage of by Chris and she feels she is the real brain behind the couple. This proves to be false when she falls prey to a business scam. Meanwhile Chris's business starts booming when an actress (Pert Kelton) takes up shop as a manicurist to make some extra money. Her wiggling hips make the shop a hot spot for the local men.

A fun movie with a cast of unknowns, The Meanest Gal in Town is not likely to show up outside of film conventions and collector's homes, but it is an enjoyable film. Brendel makes use of his simpleton Swedish character and provides much of the comedy. Some people hate him; I love him. He is sweet and rather funny, illustrated by scenes like the opener where he strums a ukulele and sings with the accompaniment of a howling dog. Pitts is more likable here than in some of her other movies. In spite of Brendel's sweetness, it is difficult not to root for Pitts too, especially when Chris treats Tillie badly.

Producers run out on star performer Lulu White (Pert Kelton) and the whole crew. Penniless Lulu is confident to wiggle herself out of the predicament. She gets a manicurist job with struggling barber Chris Peterson (El Brendel). The place is soon swarming with Lulu's male admirers. Long-suffering girlfriend Tillie Prescott (Zasu Pitts) gets jealous.

Lulu White is a fun character and Pert Kelton is a solid comedic actress. I've never heard of her and it's interesting to read up on her career or lack thereof. El Brendel's accented performance is a little problematic with the early sound. I don't even know what he's trying to be. This is pre-Code which allows some more fun. Mostly, I'm taken with Pert and Lulu.