Laughter in Hell

Laughter in Hell never seems to figure out just what kind of a movie it is. Is it a romance, a revenge story, a jail picture? It hops around willy-nilly without sufficient binding in between. Some of the scenes are incredibly awkward too, especially the one where Pat O'Brien reveals to his father that he has just murdered his arch rival, the man who had been sleeping with his wife. The father doesn't react. He just keeps rocking back and forth in his rocking hair, with his back to the camera. Then O'Brien continues; he has also killed his wife. The father pops up with a start! "You did what?!?" As if it is fine to have a murderous son, as long as he isn't murdering women.