You are here:

The Old Bull

Name: The Old Bull
Director: George Marshall
Released: 1932
Duration: 19 min

Representation Score

1.1/10

Minimal

1932

Passed

Director

George Marshall

Runtime

19 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The Old Bull is a typical period comedy relying on situational slapstick and physical mishaps. It centers on female characters reacting to external chaos such as car crashes and escaped animals. The film operates within the conventional social and cultural frameworks of 1932. It lacks the depth needed to address multiple aspects of identity or offer a systemic critique of societal norms. Overall, the production reflects its time, providing visibility for women without challenging prevailing social hierarchies or offering diverse character perspectives.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Old Bull have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any characters with LGBTQ+ identities or same-sex romantic relationships. The interactions between the female leads are limited to a shared adventure.

How does The Old Bull portray gender?

Fair

Female characters play key roles in driving the plot, though their involvement is mostly reactive to physical mishaps rather than proactive leadership.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Old Bull?

Minimal

The story focuses on a local conflict involving farmers and villagers, with no indication of racial diversity or blending.

How does The Old Bull represent religion and culture?

Limited

The film adheres to traditional early 20th-century comedic conventions, reinforcing standard social consequences for property damage without critiquing Western institutions.

Does The Old Bull include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no characters with visible or invisible disabilities mentioned in the narrative.

Present on Screen

The film places female characters at the center of the narrative, providing them with prominent roles.
The plot is driven by female protagonists who navigate a series of escalating physical obstacles.

Limited or Absent

The characters respond mainly to external physical threats rather than taking proactive action.
The social environment lacks racial and ethnic diversity, appearing quite homogeneous.
The narrative reinforces traditional social structures without offering any systemic critique.

Official Synopsis

Thelma and Zazu are on a leisurely excursion in a borrowed car. Thelma lets Zazu drive. When she brakes to avoid a bull pulled along by three rustics, her foot gets stuck and the car crashes through a barn. The barn's owner won't let them leave without paying damages. The gals hoof it, walking in a large circle to arrive back at the farmer's house after dark. While outside his door, they hear a radio broadcast to beware a lion escaped from a wintering circus. Can Thelma and Zasu reclaim the car while avoiding the angry farmer, his prize bull, and the renegade lion?

How are these scores produced? →