All Films

Minding the Baby

1931 • 7 min • United States of America

Bimbo's minding his baby brother, but neighbor Betty Boop (with dog's ears) wants him to come over and play.

How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 11: 'Practice Shots'

1931 • 11 min • United States of America

Golf expert Bobby Jones arrives on the golf course to join actors James Cagney, Anthony Bushell, Donald Cook, Evalyn Knapp, and Louise Fazenda in shooting a golf instruction film. Louise Fazenda however has no knowledge of golf and her ongoing commentary disrupts Jones's attempts to practice. While Cagney and Bushell hold Louise's mouth shut, Jones demonstrates his approach to golf. Later, upon arrival of director George Marshall, Louise is sent off "to practice" alone while the cast and crew go about shooting the film.

Silly Scandals

1931 • 6 min • United States of America

In a vaudeville act, Betty Boop (with dog's ears) sings "You're Drivin' Me Crazy;" Bimbo sneaks into the show and runs afoul of a stage hypnotist.

Playing at Politics

1931 • 56 min • United States of America

Ollie is running for mayor and an old flame threatens to blackmail him.

A Burglar to the Rescue

1931 • 18 min • United States of America

He is working on the books to cover his crimes, when a visitor arrives with a gun. In the conversation that ensues, it is revealed that the visitor is an escaped convict that was a former employee of the bank. He was railroaded to prison to cover the crooked banker's crime. As with other entries in this series, there is a shadow projected every so often with a voice forecasting what is to come.

Regeneration

1931 • 47 min • Mexico

The Naughty Flirt

1931 • 56 min • United States of America

A coquettish socialite falls for a straight-laced associate in her father's law firm. But she must also fend off the advances of a greedy fortune-hunter and his sister.

Ostend, Queen of Seaside Resorts

1931 • 11 min • Belgium

A montage drawn from 35 reports Henri Storck filmed in 1930 as the city’s official cinegraphiste. The film celebrates Ostend as a place of joy and vitality—by day and night a city of beaches and parties, of sports, games, and the special pride of belonging to this seaside resort.

Air-Tight

1931 • 17 min • United States of America

The college aerial club is at the airfield to inaugurate a new glider. Alabam gets a lot of teasing for being a "land lizard," never wanting to fly. Mary takes him aside to boost his spirits and offers to take his photo if he'll sit on a glider parked nearby. Dave is ready to take the club's glider up, but Mickey hooks the wrong rope to his car and pulls Alabam into the air. He hasn't a clue what to do; below, Mickey and Dave try to shout instructions while the glider's owner gives chase. What goes up . . .

The World in a Wine-Glass

1931 • 8 min • United Kingdom

Short documentary showing infusoria in a wine-glass.

I am from Siam

1931 • 26 min • United States of America

A short documentary about Thailand, formerly known as Siam.

Once Over, Light

1931 • 10 min

In the barbershop, a costumer contends with a barber hard-selling hair tonic, an obnoxious customer with a theory about World War I, and a dizzy manicurist (Grace) who engages him in typically crazy conversation.

Shining Love

1931 • 38 min • Japan

Created by Shochiku’s cultural film department on behalf of the Ministry of Education, this film tells an ironic anecdote juxtaposing the fate of a cooper’s son with that of the son of a middle-class salaried worker, and championing the virtues of honest poverty and diligence. An educational film preaching a fable-like message, it is however filled with humorous scenes that offset the film’s didacticism. Original director Yoshio Nishio fell ill and was replaced halfway through the shooting by the admired filmmaker Hiroshi Shimizu; though finished in May 1931, the film was shelved and never given a general release. Shot as a silent film, this version of the film features musical accompaniment, sound effects, and a spoken commentary track by a benshi narrator, thus bearing witness to the variety of forms taken by sound film during this transitional period.

Wild and Woolly

1931 • 9 min

This Sports Champions entry visits a rodeo and highlights the three main events: bronco busting, bull riding, and bull-dogging steers.

Son-in-Law

1931 • 24 min • India

This comedy has a country bumpkin hero Gobardhan visiting his parents-in-law in Calcutta. Mistaking a 'No Nuisance' sign for an address, he gets lost trying to find his friend Amal's room. His subsequent adventures take him to famous locations including Howrah Bridge, the Victoria Memorial and the Maidan. Gobardhan evntually finds his in-laws, feigns illness to prolong his stay, is beaten up when he tries to sneak into his wife's room and gets mistaken for a thief.

The Pajama Party

1931 • 20 min • United States of America

After running their car off the road, a society matron insists that the girls spend the evening at her mansion.

Lariats and Six-Shooters

1931 • 55 min • United States of America

A gang of jewel smugglers swears to take revenge on a deputy sheriff after his dogged pursuit of them forces them to flee without their goods.

Ain't Nature Grand!

1931 • 7 min • United States of America

Bosko fishes, and sings and dances with frogs. But two ladybugs use a wasp as an airplane, and a beehive and tree branch as a machine gun to drive him away.

Dizzy Red Riding-Hood

1931 • 6 min • United States of America

Betty Boop goes to Grandma's through the woods despite wolf warnings; but Bimbo follows and gives the old story a new twist.

How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 9: 'The Driver'

1931 • 10 min

Bobby Jones uses some unorthodox (some might say magical) methods to help a man with his drive.

100% Service

1931 • 11 min • United States of America

George registers at the Jefferson Hotel; after the desk clerk gives him the runaround, he meets Gracie at the cigar counter.

Bill's Legacy

1931 • 57 min • United Kingdom

A comedy film directed by Harry Revier.

Musical Justice

1931 • 11 min

Rudy Vallee and His Connecticut Yankees, as judge and jury, try three musical misdemeanors; the last defendant is a live-action Betty Boop, who sings a duet with Rudy.

The Montana Kid

1931 • 60 min • United States of America

A cowboy whose friend has been swindled out of his ranch and then murdered must take care of the man's son, then he goes after the killers.