The Rounder | 1930 | Comedy, Short

Title: The Rounder | 1930 | Comedy, Short
Director: J. C. Nugent
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Starring: Jack Benny, Dorothy Sebastian, George K. Arthur, Polly Moran
Release Date: January 18, 1930
Runtime: 20 minutes
Format: Black and white; sound short
Country: United States
Language: English
Genres: Comedy, Short

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Chapters:
00:00:00 Drunken stumble home
00:03:00 Ladder mix-up and wrong room
00:07:00 Encounter with the woman next door
00:12:00 Romantic misunderstanding
00:16:00 Comic conclusion

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Summary:
In this early sound comedy short, a tipsy Jack Benny returns home in a less-than-steady state and attempts to climb a ladder to reach what he thinks is his bedroom. Unfortunately, he ends up entering the wrong room — the bedroom of Dorothy Sebastian’s character, who, fresh from an argument with her boyfriend, has declared she’ll marry the next man she meets. Benny’s character finds himself inadvertently caught up in this romantic predicament, leading to a series of humorous misunderstandings and flirtatious mishaps. The short unfolds as a single extended gag centered on mistaken identity and awkward advances as the characters navigate the consequences of a drunken mistake.

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Background:
Produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, *The Rounder* is a two-reel comedy short released in early 1930. Directed by J. C. Nugent, the film features Jack Benny in one of his earliest screen appearances, showcasing the budding comic persona that would later make him a household name in radio and television. The short embodies the transitional era of early sound cinema’s embrace of vaudeville-style humor and quick comedy sketches adapted to film.

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Trivia:
Jack Benny’s role in *The Rounder* predates his major radio success, capturing his early screen work.

The premise revolves around a single elaborate visual gag built on physical comedy and situational humor.

MGM produced a series of comedy shorts in this period to showcase talent under contract and to provide varied offerings in theatrical programs.

Dorothy Sebastian’s character adds a layer of romantic farce to the drunken misadventure at the short’s center.

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Public Domain / Rights:
Original Release: January 18, 1930
Original Studio / Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Copyright Status: Public Domain
Renewal: Unknown

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Hashtags:
TheRounder1930 PublicDomain MGM JackBenny DorothySebastian ComedyShort ClassicFilm

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