Gary Johnson wrote:I've never really warmed up to the appeal of Vernon Dent. All I ever hear is that he is versatile and prolific. For me his versatility consists of scowling at Harry Langdon, scowling at Billy Bevan or scowling at the Three Stooges. And the fact that he was so over abundant in film appearances may account for his status among comedy buffs. "Look!! It's Vernon!!" People love pointing out the obvious.
It's not that I find him inept in any sense of the word, it's just that his screen appearances rarely move me beyond what the star comedian is already doing - unlike, say....Jimmy Finlayson, who could go toe-to-toe with Laurel & Hardy or have a walk-on in a big budget film like THE TOAST OF NEW YORK (1937) and command the screen equally. That's my idea of a top supporting player.
Gary J.
Just found this old post after perusing the old threads.
Gary, I've never, EVER, encountered anyone who didn't appreciate Vernon Dent's talent before. He's an essential ingredient to the overall success of so many Stooge two-reelers; take Vernon Dent out of the equation and The Boys' shtick could become unbearably silly. Not many years after their inception, most of the Columbia shorts product ran a paltry 15 or 16 minutes at best. I can't imagine anyone else whose presence could so quickly establish the scene for The Stooges to deflate law/order/dignity and ensure that the laughs would flow. And the man's timing owed nothing to anyone. To imply that Vernon Dent was not a welcome and wonderful addition to any comedy short he appeared in is akin to calling Margaret Dumont a nondescript actress.
Comparing what Vernon Dent does onscreen to what James Finlayson does onscreen is about as helpful an evaluation as comparing Fin to Bud Abbott. Some people are straightmen, others are eccentrics. If they're good at what they do and add to the overall enjoyment of the film, it shouldn't matter if they are star comics, second bananas, or bit players. Anyhow, that's my take on Vernon Dent.