Bubbling Over (1934) [Comedy]



“Bubbling Over” is a 1934 American musical comedy short film directed by Leigh Jason.

Samson Peabody is the janitor in an apartment building where he and his wife Ethel live with a large crowd of Samson’s freeloading relatives. When more relatives come to stay, Ethel throws them out. A scheming occupant of the building reads Samson’s mail and poses as a clairvoyant prediciting the events of the letter; the arrival of Samson’s rich Uncle for dinner. However, the Uncle is a penniless lunatic (imagining himself to be The Emperor Jones) and a pickpocket. He steals the chicken of the dinner, several watches of the guests, the clairvoyant’s crystal ball and in the final scene, all the clothes of the people in the room.

Directed by Leigh Jason, produced by Meyer Davis (associate producer) and Monroe Shaff (producer), written by Burnet Hershey, starring Ethel Waters as Ethel Peabody, Southernaires Quartet as Some Relatives, Hamtree Harrington as Presbee Peabody and Frank L. Wilson as Swami River.

Source: “Bubbling Over (film)” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 21 June 2012. Web. 20 July 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubbling_Over_(1934_film).

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7 Replies to “Bubbling Over (1934) [Comedy]”

  1. No surprise to me that all of you would think of this song as beautiful whens there is In fact NOTHING beautiful about this song… It's sad. the song implies that blacks were happy to serve whites, happy with their oppression and would never think of themselves as oppressed. That they have no motivation to do anything other than serve your people…smh Will this racist bullshit ever end

  2. The lyrics didn't seem to me to be supporting a subservient life but mourning it. She was aiming for spiritual happiness despite poor circumstance.  She pretty much says there's not much point in dreaming when those dreams can't come true (at least on earth). That's a bittersweet melody most of us can relate to, whether fueled by discrimination, poverty, or any burden which thwarts one's dreams. Anyway, Ms. Waters is a joy to watch.

  3. I so admire Ethel Waters. In a tough business, in hard times, she held her own, graciously. A long time ago, I read her autobiography, "His Eye is on the Sparrow." A testament of all she overcame. A truly amazing woman.

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