I was half tempted to turn off the video during the Smith and Dale film, as I just didn't find them very funny. The section of the film up until Smith fires Dale (or is it vice-versa?) is pretty unfunny and made me long to see their famous "Dr. Cronkheit" skit instead. However, when the ex-boss gets a letter saying that someone is looking for this ex-employee to give him a $20,000 inheritance, it really picks up steam FAST! We find our fired employee taking a nap in the back room. He has the craziest and silliest dream. Instead of liquor (this is during Prohibition), the world is clamoring for pants! The mob apparently has stolen most of the pants and it's really funny to watch all the guys walking around in boxers! For example, cops and guys in tuxedos are wearing everything BUT pants! And, since pants are so rare, people sneak off to pants speakeasies to wear pants where the cops won't find out and arrest them! The pants speakeasy bit is great and so creative a way to make fun of Prohibition.
DON'T READ FURTHER, AS THIS WILL REVEAL THE PUNCHLINE: I WARNED YOU,...
When he awakens, the ex-boss is there to announce that the firing was all a gag--a big misunderstanding. He then pulls out a contract and insists on making the guy his equal partner,...and it will cost absolutely NOTHING,...except for any inheritance the other guy receives during the next year. You in the audience want to yell at him NOT TO SIGN, as the boss wants to cheat him, but he does. Then, the old boss (and new equal partner) announces what a smart thing he's done! But, the other guy responds "you don't need to show me the letter--I remember EXACTLY what I wrote myself"--the last laugh was indeed on the stingy boss!
DON'T READ FURTHER, AS THIS WILL REVEAL THE PUNCHLINE: I WARNED YOU,...
When he awakens, the ex-boss is there to announce that the firing was all a gag--a big misunderstanding. He then pulls out a contract and insists on making the guy his equal partner,...and it will cost absolutely NOTHING,...except for any inheritance the other guy receives during the next year. You in the audience want to yell at him NOT TO SIGN, as the boss wants to cheat him, but he does. Then, the old boss (and new equal partner) announces what a smart thing he's done! But, the other guy responds "you don't need to show me the letter--I remember EXACTLY what I wrote myself"--the last laugh was indeed on the stingy boss!