Earthworm Tractors

2302. EARTHWORM TRACTORS (1936-USA). WITH JOE E. BROWN, JUNE TRAVIS, GLENN KIBBEE, DICK FORAN, GENE LOCKHART. WIDE-MOUTHED FUNNY-MAN JOE E. BROWN WAS AT HIS PLAYING COMICALLY OBLIVIOUS BRAGGARTS WHO WERE SINGLE-MINDED IN THEIR SELF-ASSURANCE. THEY WOULD BLUSTER ON ABOUT BEING THE BEST AT EVERYTHING BUT ULTIMATELY WOULD PROVE TO BE FAR LESS THAN INFALLIÂBLE. HERE BROWN STARS AS ALEXANDER BOLTS, A SELF-DESCRIBED “NATURAL BORN SALESMAN.” LATELY HE’S BEEN HAWKING NONDESCRIPT GADGETS, AND THERE IS VERY LITTLE PROFIT HERE. THIS DISPLEASES THE FATHER OF THE GIRL HE LOVES. SHE ISN’T TOO IMPRESSED HERSELF. SHE TELLS BOTTS THAT SHE WISHES HE WOULD SELL SOMETHING “WORTHWHILE.” HE CANNOT SELL SHIPS OR BRIDGES. EVEN HE KNOWS THIS IS IMPRACTICAL. INSTEAD, HE DECIDES TO PEDDLE EARTHWORM TRACTORS! “THAT’S BIG,” BOTTS NOTES. “THAT’S IMPORTANT. THAT’S WORTHWHILE.” OUR HERO PROMISES TO MAKE A BIG SUCCESS SELLING TRACTORS. HOWEVER, YOU QUICKLY WILL SEE THAT A PROMISE BY ALEXANDER BOTTS IS NOT THAT EASILY KEPT. HE MAY AS WELL CHANGE HIS NAME TO “BOTCH” AS HE ATTEMPTS TO PEDDLE A TRACTOR TO A PERPETUAL GRUMP (PLAYED TO A TEE BY GUY KIBBEE}. THE SCENES IN WHICH BOTTS AND HIS TRACTOR RUN AMUCK ARE ESPECIALLY AMUSING, 68 MINUTES. COMEDY