You are here:

Monkey Businessmen

Name: Monkey Businessmen
Director: Edward Bernds
Released: 1946
Duration: 18 min

Representation Score

3.4/10

Limited

1946

Director

Edward Bernds

Runtime

18 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Monkey Businessmen operates within the narrow comedic framework of its time. It relies heavily on male-centric slapstick and traditional archetypes, offering little space for diverse perspectives or identities. The film's strength lies in its critique of fraudulent authority, particularly through the character of Dr. Mallard. This provides a brief disruption of the idea that professional status equals benevolence. However, the lack of diverse representation is significant. The story remains confined to a homogeneous social landscape, prioritizing situational comedy over meaningful exploration of different cultural or social identities.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Monkey Businessmen have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisgender identities. This omission is common for comedy shorts made in 1946.

How does Monkey Businessmen portray gender?

Limited

The story focuses on male characters and a male antagonist. Female characters have limited roles and do not challenge traditional gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Monkey Businessmen?

Limited

There are no characters of color or non-Anglo-Saxon representations. The cast follows typical mid-century casting practices.

How does Monkey Businessmen represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story critiques institutional corruption by showing a doctor as a fraud. However, the resolution relies on traditional moral structures.

Does Monkey Businessmen include disability representation?

Limited

Characters are portrayed as clumsy, but there is no focus on neurodivergence or physical disabilities. Slapstick humor is the main comedic element.

Present on Screen

The plot critiques institutional corruption by exposing a fraudulent medical professional.
The narrative uses a clear moral structure where accidental competence leads to a positive outcome.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks gender diversity, focusing almost exclusively on male characters and perspectives.
There is a notable absence of racial, ethnic, and LGBTQ+ representation within the cast.
The reliance on physical clumsiness as a comedic tool limits character's ability to drive the story.

Official Synopsis

The stooges are bumbling electricians who decide to go away for a rest after they are fired for their incompetence. The rest home they choose is run by Dr. Mallard, a quack who gyps the patients for everything they've got. When the boys discover the crooked goings on they escape, but not before Curly accidentally cures another patient who rewards him with a thousand dollars.

How are these scores produced? →