Robert Benchley
Acting
Biography
Robert Benchley (September 15, 1889 - November 21, 1945) was an American humorist, a newspaper columnist and an actor.
Born: September 14, 1889
Place of Birth: Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Known For
Showbiz Goes to War
While a few Hollywood celebrities such as James Stewart and Clark Gable saw combat during World War II, the majority used their talents to rally the American public through bond sales, morale-boosting USO tours, patriotic war dramas and escapist film fare. Comedian David Steinberg plays host for this star-studded, 90-minute documentary, which looks at the way Tinseltown helped the United States' war effort.
The Forgotten Man
Robert Benchley's wry forerunner to "Father of the Bride" detailing his perspective of the upcoming nuptials.
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
Two classic animated shorts from the Disney studios. In 'The Reluctant Dragon' (1941), a young boy and a famous dragon fighter team up to teach a docile dragon the art of being a force to be reckoned with. In 'Mickey and the Beanstalk' (1947), Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck confront the fearsome Willie the Giant to try to retrieve the magical singing harp to Happy Valley.
The Romance of Digestion
A brief, illustrated lecture on digestion. Aburdist humor is the hallmark of this pseudo-scientific description of biting, chewing, swallowing, and digesting food. The on-screen narrator begins with teeth, "little sentinels" as he calls them, and the tongue. Then it's on to the stomach: he describes the stomach's workings as if it were an office or a factory. He uses an illustration of the side view of a human torso, with mouth, esophagus, and stomach visible, saying it's a photograph of a man with a visible digestive tract.
Song of Russia
American conductor John Meredith and his manager, Hank Higgins, go to Russia shortly before the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. Meredith falls in love with beautiful Soviet pianist Nadya Stepanova while they travel throughout the country on a 40-city tour. Along the way, they see happy, healthy, smiling, free Soviet citizens, blissfully living the Communist dream. This bliss is destroyed by the German invasion.
The Pixar Story
A look at the first years of Pixar Animation Studios - from the success of "Toy Story" and Pixar's promotion of talented people, to the building of its East Bay campus, the company's relationship with Disney, and its remarkable initial string of eight hits. The contributions of John Lasseter, Ed Catmull and Steve Jobs are profiled. The decline of two-dimensional animation is chronicled as three-dimensional animation rises. Hard work and creativity seem to share the screen in equal proportions.
How to Behave
Two men working below a manhole cover wonder what they would do if a woman was to fall in. This leads to one of the workers saying that Robert Benchley always has the best advice about any social situation. Hilarity ensues.
Flesh and Fantasy
Anthology film of three tales of the supernatural. The first story is set at the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The second involves a psychic who predicts murder. The third is about a man who literally meets the girl of his dreams.
The Major and the Minor
Low on funds, working-class girl Susan Applegate disguises herself as a youngster in order to pay half fare home. But little 'Sue Sue' finds herself in a whole heap of grownup trouble when she hides out in a compartment with handsome Major Philip Kirby.
My Tomato
Joe Doakes is lamenting to his wife the lack of variety in his meals. In particular, he misses eating stewed tomatoes, the fruit which he believes incorrectly is being rationed as a war measure. Mrs. Doakes knows that tomatoes aren't rationed, but she doesn't correct him, especially after he announces that he will grow enough tomatoes to feed the entire block. As he proceeds with his tomato garden, he, unaware of what it actually takes to grow tomato plants successfully, accepts advice from the many people who are willing to give it. The problem ends up being that much of the advice is conflicting. But at the end of the process, Joe is pleased with the fact of having grown a fruit to maturity - regardless of the actual yield of the garden - until someone else, or something else, has a say in what happens to that fruit.
Filmography
as Robert Benchley (archive footage)
as Robert Benchley (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
as Himself (archive footage)
as (archive footage)
as (archive footage)
as Joseph Doakes in 'That Inferior Feeling' (archive footage)
as Self
as John Van Brunt
as Uncle Todd Warren
as Narrator
as Tom P. Curtis
as Ben Stevens
as Randy Morton
as George Archer
as Robert Benchley
as Robert Benchley
as Frederick Stumplefinger
as Parker
as Charlie Corker
as Joe Doakes
as Judge Robert Simpson
as John Van Brunt
as Martin Osborne
as Joseph A. Doakes
as Joseph A. Doakes
as Mr. Holliday
as Hank Higgins
as Joseph A. Doakes
as Doakes
as Philip 'Phil' Harriman
as Self
as Arthur Kenny
as Dr. Dudley White
as Mr. Osborne
as Doakes (scenes deleted)
as G.B. Atwater
as Mr. Benchley
as Joe Doakes
as Eddie Turner
as Wilburforce Puddle, hotel manager
as Martin Cortland
as Robert Benchley
as Joe Doakes / Father
as Sgt. Benchley / Joe Doakes
as Prof. Oliver Wendel Holmes Dana
as Joe Doakes
as Joe Doakes
as Roger Van Horn
as Stebbins
as Joe Doakes
as Joseph H. 'Joe' Doakes
as Lecturer / Joseph H. Doakes
as Joe Doakes
as Lecturer / Joe Doakes
as Joe Doakes
as Joe Doakes
as Lecturer / Joe
as Joe Doakes
as Psychoanalyst / Mr. Ostegraf
as City Treasurer Benchley
as Football Fan
as Lecturer
as Zoology Lecturer
as Lecturer Father
as Joe Doakes
as Robert Benchley
as Joe Doakes
as Lecturer
as Husband
as Oscar
as Robert Benchley
as Duffy
as Joe Doakes
as Mr. Benchley
as Mr. Robert Benchley
as Bill Macon
as Lecturer / Dog Owner
as Mr. Benchley
as Host / Narrator
as Charlie McCaleb
as Robert Benchley
as Ward King
as Hubbell
as Radio Announcer
as Radio Announcer
as Lecturer