Miss Polly

Romance in the town of Midville is under the iron hand of the Civic League, whose moral purity campaign is so effective, there hasn't been a marriage in over two years. Spinster Miss Pandora Polly is fed up, and decides to give the young people some much needed help. Hidden deep in her basement, she uncovers a secret family love potion. Unleashing the powerful formula on the unsuspecting populace, the repressed town of Midville is turned upside down by a torrent of unbridled passion.

Zasu Pitts, who headlines this Hal Roach featurette, received her curious moniker when her mother promised to name her newborn after sisters Eliza and Susan. Although beginning with small comic bit parts in the early silent era, she turned in powerful dramatic performances when given the chance, most notably in Erich Von Stroheim's 1924 epic, Greed. A busy career in comedy features and shorts followed with notable roles in Blondie Of The Follies (1932), Ruggles of Red Gap (1935) and Life With Father (1947). She also found success on the small screen most notably on "The Gale Storm Show."

BONUS: Help Wanted, Female (1930) starring Edgar Kennedy, Daphne Pollard and directed by Ralph Ceder.

• comedy