One of the key members of the Algonquin Round Table, and a regular contributor to The New Yorker in their salad days, Robert Benchley (grandfather of Peter "Jaws" Benchley) also appeared in over eighty films, including the not-terribly-funny Road to Zanzibar Utopia, one of the many Hope & Crosby road pictures that were made between 1940 and 1962. Benchley appears as himself, popping up from time to time to help explain the no-explanation-needed plot. Hell, it was a paycheck.
Well, it's Christmas week, and things are busy chez Filmbrain, as I imagine they are for all of you. Naturally, I had to choose something with a holiday theme, so why not a portrait of an office party back in the day when impropriety was the rule rather than the exception. Name this not-terribly-joyous film. Submit your answers to this address. Good luck, and a very happy holiday to you all!


no offense but are you sure? I viewed that exact screen shot in the opening of road to utopia!
Posted by: mike | 2008.12.25 at 08:59 PM
First you show no love for Rohmer, then you dis a Hope/Crosby film. Like the lady said, I'm disappointed with you, Andrew.
Posted by: Glenn Kenny | 2008.12.28 at 01:24 PM
I don't know what to say, Glenn....somehow the wife beater and the anti-Semite never did it for me...
Posted by: Filmbrain | 2008.12.28 at 01:33 PM