Only Saps Work
"He's a 'Hook' and a 'Crook'—and he'll steal your heart while he's picking your pocket!"
Plot
James Wilson is a slippery kleptomaniac who transitions from petty pickpocketing to an audacious bank robbery, all while maintaining a charming and loose-limbed persona. During one of his heists, he is inadvertently aided by the young and honest Lawrence Payne, who soon finds himself in serious legal trouble as a suspected accomplice. To evade capture and clear his friend's name, Wilson checks into a high-end health resort where he poses as a world-class private investigator. While there, he bumbles through a series of 'investigations,' giving absurd detective tips to the resort's gullible bellboy, Oscar, before a high-speed automobile chase brings the chaos to a head. Ultimately, Wilson must use his criminal wits to extricate Payne from the law's clutches so the young man can finally find happiness with the beautiful Barbara Tanner.
About the Production
The film was adapted from the 1925 Broadway play 'Easy Come, Easy Go' by Owen Davis. Paramount had previously filmed the story as a silent in 1928 under the original play title. This 1930 version was specifically tailored to showcase the vaudeville talents of Leon Errol, particularly his famous 'rubber legs' routine. Reports from the time suggest much of the comedy was improvised 'from the cuff' during filming, with director Cyril Gardner allowing Errol to extemporize while the cameras rolled. Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who would later become a legendary director, provided much of the snappy dialogue for the screenplay.
Historical Background
Released in December 1930, the film arrived during the early years of the Great Depression and the 'Pre-Code' era of Hollywood. The title itself, 'Only Saps Work,' reflected a cynical, populist sentiment common during the economic downturn, where the idea of 'honest work' was increasingly viewed with irony. As a Pre-Code comedy, the film features a protagonist who is an unrepentant criminal (a kleptomaniac) but is nonetheless portrayed as the hero, a trope that would be strictly regulated after the 1934 enforcement of the Hays Code. It also represents the era's trend of 'Vaudeville on Film,' where studios rushed to sign stage stars like Errol to fill the demand for 'talking' pictures.
Why This Film Matters
The film is significant as a primary document of Leon Errol's comedic style, preserving his physical 'rubber legs' routine for future generations. It also serves as a milestone in the early careers of several Hollywood giants, including Joseph L. Mankiewicz and Edward Dmytryk. Culturally, it captures the transition from silent slapstick to the dialogue-heavy 'screwball' and 'caper' comedies that would dominate the 1930s. Its portrayal of a lovable rogue helped set the template for the 'gentleman thief' and 'accidental criminal' archetypes in American cinema.
Making Of
The production was characterized by a loose, improvisational atmosphere. According to contemporary accounts in Time Magazine, the cast and crew often held conferences on location after each sequence to decide what to do next, as the script was frequently treated as a mere outline. This allowed Leon Errol to bring his years of stage experience into the film, particularly in the health resort scenes where he 'teaches' Stuart Erwin how to be a detective. The technical transition to sound was still relatively new, and the film utilized the Western Electric Sound System. The production also made use of the Paramount Ranch for the climactic automobile chase, a location that would later become iconic in Western film history.
Visual Style
The cinematography by Rex Wimpy is typical of early 1930s Paramount productions, featuring high-key lighting and relatively static camera placements necessitated by the bulky early sound equipment. However, the film breaks away from the 'filmed play' aesthetic during the outdoor chase sequences, which utilize more dynamic tracking shots and location photography at the Paramount Ranch.
Innovations
The film is an early example of successful sound editing by Edward Dmytryk, who had to synchronize Errol's fast-paced physical comedy with the dialogue. The integration of location-based sound during the car chase was also a notable technical hurdle for the period's recording technology.
Music
The film features a standard orchestral score for the era, but it is most notable for its use of diegetic sound and Errol's vocal performance. There are several comedic 'patter' routines and a scene where characters sing 'I Love Those Irish Songs' and other snippets of popular tunes, reflecting the vaudeville influence on early talkies.
Famous Quotes
James Wilson: 'I'm not a crook, I'm a kleptomaniac. There's a social difference!'
James Wilson (to Oscar): 'The first rule of being a detective, son, is to never let the left hand know what the right hand is stealing.'
Oscar: 'But Mr. Wilson, you just took that gentleman's watch!' James Wilson: 'I'm just keeping it warm for him. It's a cold day.'
James Wilson: 'Only saps work. The rest of us just use our wits!'
Memorable Scenes
- The Pullman car sequence where James Wilson systematically picks the pockets of his fellow passengers while the train passes through a dark tunnel.
- The 'Detective Lesson' scene where Wilson uses his rubber-legged physical comedy to demonstrate to the bellboy how to 'sneak up' on a suspect.
- The climactic automobile chase through the hills, featuring Errol's frantic reactions as he tries to evade the police with a bag of stolen bank money.
- The 'Japalappa Prunes' monologue where Errol's character improvises a nonsensical story about the origin of prunes to distract a group of resort guests.
Did You Know?
- This film marked the first starring 'talkie' feature for the famous vaudeville comedian Leon Errol.
- Leon Errol was world-renowned for his 'rubber legs' or 'folding legs' act, which he incorporates into his character's physical comedy in this film.
- The screenplay features early work by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who later won Academy Awards for 'All About Eve' and 'A Letter to Three Wives.'
- The film was edited by Edward Dmytryk, who later became a prominent director and one of the 'Hollywood Ten' during the blacklist era.
- The title 'Only Saps Work' was purchased by Paramount from writer Courtenay Terrett simply because they liked the name, regardless of the original script it was attached to.
- Despite his fame for playing 'drunk' characters with wobbly legs, Leon Errol was a lifelong teetotaler in real life.
- The film is a remake of the 1928 silent film 'Easy Come, Easy Go,' which starred Richard Dix.
- Stuart Erwin, who plays the bumbling bellboy Oscar, became a frequent comedic foil in Paramount films of the early 1930s.
- The film features a notable early sound-era car chase sequence which was considered technically ambitious for 1930.
- Leon Errol's character, James Wilson, uses the alias 'The Great Japa' during his detective impersonation scenes.
What Critics Said
At the time of its release, critics were generally favorable toward Leon Errol's performance but mixed on the film's structure. Time Magazine called it 'hilariously funny,' noting that Errol was 'perfectly cast.' However, some trade publications like Movie Age described it as 'diverting in spots but decidedly lame' in its pacing. Modern critics and film historians view it as a fascinating example of early sound comedy that relies heavily on the charisma of its lead, though the romantic subplot between Richard Arlen and Mary Brian is often cited as the film's weakest element.
What Audiences Thought
Audiences in 1930 responded well to the film, primarily drawn by Leon Errol's established fame from the Ziegfeld Follies. It performed with 'Fair' to 'Good' business in major metropolitan areas like Minneapolis and New York. The physical comedy and the novelty of hearing a famous stage comic speak were the primary draws for the public during its initial run.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- The stage play 'Easy Come, Easy Go' by Owen Davis
- Ziegfeld Follies (Leon Errol's stage background)
- Silent slapstick traditions of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton
This Film Influenced
- The 'Mexican Spitfire' series (starring Leon Errol)
- The Gay Falcon (1941)
- A Slight Case of Murder (1938)
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Film Restoration
The film is preserved and survives in its entirety. It has been archived by various film preservation groups and is available in the public domain. A digital copy is maintained at the Internet Archive, though the quality is reflective of its age.