Tweet CAUGHT SHORT (update)

I’ve long wondered about the status of Caught Short (1930), a Marie Dressler-Polly Moran comedy that’s one of the most elusive of all early MGM talkies. There’s no record of it airing on TCM and even the author of a Dressler biography mentions in his book that he was only able to listen to the soundtrack. Aside from any possible print-related problems, I think I’ve figured out why it's so difficult to see: the property was remade by Republic in 1936 under the title Doughnuts and Society, this time featuring Louise Fazenda and Ann Rutherford and presuambly any intellectual rights would have gone to them and their corporate successors. Can anyone comment on whether the copyright of either picture was renewed and whether any prints remain of the 1930 version?

-Harold

Harold a quick search shows 8 sound disks residing at UCLA with the video status unknown. The film ran 75 minutes and also features Anita Page.

This would be a great find but it seems the film is likely lost.

I’ve long wondered about the status of Caught Short (1930), a Marie Dressler-Polly Moran comedy that’s one of the most elusive of all early MGM talkies. There’s no record of it airing on TCM and even the author of a Dressler biography mentions in his book that he was only able to listen to the soundtrack. Aside from any possible print-related problems, I think I’ve figured out why it's so difficult to see: the property was remade by Republic in 1936 under the title Doughnuts and Society, this time featuring Louise Fazenda and Ann Rutherford and presuambly any intellectual rights would have gone to them and their corporate successors. Can anyone comment on whether the copyright of either picture was renewed and whether any prints remain of the 1930 version?

-Harold

CAUGHT SHORT (1930) was a Cosmopolitan film released by MGM. The copyright was renewed on the film.
DOUGHNUTS AND SOCIETY (1936) was copyrighted by Mascot but the copyright was not renewed.

Joe Moore

I asked about a trio of early MGM talkies on the Warner Archive Facebook page and got this reply (the thread has since gone into hiding but never mind):

"Nothing to report on THIS MAD WORLD, but there is far brighter news on the other two. There is no rights issue on CAUGHT SHORT. The issue was that there was thought to be no surviving sound track. The key word being 'was', as we have now located an audio source, although there may be quality issues. Lastly, we have cleared A TAILOR-MADE MAN, and will soon be mastering it for eventual release."

-HA

Looking forward to these titles very much.

Good news indeed, Harold, as I'm a huge fan of William Haines and Marie Dressler.

[Danny Burk]

Excellent report...very good to hear. If they're going to the trouble of clearing rights for an admittedly obscure film, it gives me hope that they'll work to get CHRISTOPHER BEAN and IT'S A WISE CHILD resolved.

To me, films like ITS A WISE CHILD, CAUGHT SHORT, A TAILOR-MADE MAN etc. are what the WA is all about. I don't usually care much about the films that TCM shows regularly...its these rare films that really make it a special program.

Is It's a Wise Child even a complete film?

I look forward to the day I can see Marie Dressler in CAUGHT SHORT and CHRISTOPHER BEAN. As far as I'm concerned, the fact Anita Page is in the former makes it an automatic must-see. Meanwhile, will THE CALLAHANS AND THE MURPHYS ever see the light of day (I've read it may still exist after all)?