Next Week-End

Will Stanton, drunken host at his own dull dinner party, decides to leave his guests and go out to make whoopee. At a local night club, emcee Eddie Dunn introduces singer Dorothy Granger. Her singing inspires not a single reaction. The dead atmosphere is livened up when Stanton shows up and starts mussing up everybody's hair. It catches on and soon patrons are mussing each other's hair. Stanton goes into the washroom and drunkenly washes two hands - one his and one the attendant's. He takes a bottle of soap back to the dance floor and pours it out, causing all the dancers to fall on their ..well, to fall down. A seltzer spray melee follows and Stanton decides to go home. His dull wife asks Stanton to tell his dull guests if he learned anything out on the town. Stanton picks up a bottle of seltzer and starts spritzing.

Directed by Eddie Dunn, Next Week-End leans on a strong ensemble — Douglas Wakefield, Dorothy Granger, Billy Gilbert — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 1934.