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A 10-minute marital meltdown over ivory keys and male ego — 1950s sitcom chaos distilled.
TMDB
60
Watch(US)

So You Want to Play the Piano (1956)

retro snarkdomestic warfarepiano panic

Overview

Comedy

Alice neglects her housework because she is enthralled with the long-haired piano player, Gregor Flatorsharpsky, next door. Joe buys a piano, and the accompanying free lessons, and sets out to impress Alice. Alice is vastly unimpressed.

Flag of USUS
Content warning
piano lessonsthe new piano

Standout Aspects

Acting

O'Hanlon's escalating desperation is pure silent-film energy.

Direction

Bare squeezes three acts into one reel like a pro.

Best for:Solo: Coffee break comedy — literally ten minutes.·Rewatch: Spot the era's casual sexism, wince, laugh anyway.
Richard L. Bare

Director

Richard L. Bare

ReleasedMay 5, 1956
Runtime10m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacefast
Intensitymedium
Tonelight
Feellight
Richard L. Bare Productions

Top Cast

George O'Hanlon

George O'Hanlon

Joe McDoakes

Phyllis Coates

Phyllis Coates

Alice McDoakes

Charlie Hall

Charlie Hall

Ask about So You Want to Play the Piano

Opens AI chat

Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

This was one of 63 'Joe McDoakes' shorts Warner Bros. cranked out between 1942-1956 — pure B-picture efficiency.

Cultural

The 'husband buys expensive hobby equipment to win wife's attention' plot is basically 1950s America's entire gender dynamic in a nutshell.

Reviews

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Now Viewing

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