Boob Toob

Trapped by Television (1936) is a little bagatelle,a kind of B-movie comedy - maybe what you'd call a programmer, something to fill a movie-shaped hole in the schedule. Directed by Del Lord of Three Stooges fame, it isn't great, but it's fun to watch.

Ned Pendleton is a bill collector whose hobby is science. You might remember him as the dopey policeman in the Thin Man series - kind of a palooka type. He tries to collect from inventor Lyle Talbot who is working on inventing television.

Meanwhile, Mary Astor (Maltese Falcon) and her room-mate/partner in crime are running a scam finding investors for worthless inventions, and manage to run into Pendleton and Talbot. Then, when a crooked electronics exec tries to steal the invention...

You get the idea. Pendleton is my favorite part - great rubberfaced character actor. Mary Astor does not really stretch her acting muscles, but is suitably ornamental. The comedy is pretty light - not many jokes, just some mildly silly situations. At 64 minutes long, it doesn't wear out its welcome.