This film is part of Free

Sound Advice

Worst. Advice. Ever. An early cinema ad for tobacco.

Advert 1931 7 mins

Overview

What’s up doc? Although it has sound, the advice in this early cinema advert is anything but. Bombie Comber - described in a contemporary newsreel as a “famous radio, variety and gramophone artist” - plays an irritable husband suffering from abject depression. Against all good medical sense his dodgy doc prescribes pipe tobacco, and peace descends on his home and marriage. WARNING – smoking does not prevent you from being a cantankerous old s*d.

Subjects