Only Saps Work (1930)

Plot Summary

Rubber-legged comedian Leon Errol made his talkie starring bow in Paramount's Only Saps Work. Based on a play by Owen Davis Sr., the film casts Errol as James Wilson, a kleptomaniac who starts with picking pockets and ends up robbing a bank. Wilson's friend Lawrence Payne (Richard Arlen) inadvertently aids our hero during one of his heists, ending up in deep doo-doo with the law. Before Wilson is able to extricate Payne from his dilemma for the sake of heroine Barbara Tanner (Mary Brian), he pauses long enough to pose as a private eye -- and even gives bellboy Oscar (Stu Erwin) tips on how to spot a crook! If only all of Leon Errol's feature films had been as consistently hilarious as Only Saps Work.

Full Cast & Characters

Leon Errol

James Wilson

Richard Arlen

Larry Payne

Mary Brian

Barbara Tanner

Stuart Erwin

Oscar

Anderson Lawler

Horace Baldwin

Charley Grapewin

Simeon Tanner

Clarence Burton

Sergeant Burns (uncredited)

Nora Cecil

Mrs. Partridge (uncredited)

George Chandler

Elevator Operator (uncredited)

G. Pat Collins

Rafferty (uncredited)

Clifford Dempsey

Detective Smith (uncredited)

Charles Giblyn

Dr. Jasper (uncredited)

Director & Crew

Where to Watch Only Saps Work Online

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