How to Undress in Front of Your Husband

Plot

The privacy of two Hollywood celebrities is compromised when a Peeping Tom watches them disrobe. One of the women is described as possessing a graceful and alluring glamour, while the other climbs into bed as the narrator declares, "the dreadnought is about to drop anchor." Their contrasting styles are presented as an object lesson on how to cure a listless marriage.

In Elaine's bedroom, she has come home tired from a party in Hollywood. However, she shows gracefulness in properly taking off her dress, undergarments, stockings and shoes for her nightgown and comfortable slippers. She also makes an effort to comb her hair properly and climb into bed gracefully.

In Trixie's room, she also comes home tired from a party. Unlike Elaine, she improperly undresses by leaving her dress, corset, stockings and shoes on the ground, even kicking them away to put her nightgown on. Trixie doesn't bother to comb her hair by wearing a ruffled shower cap throwing every decoration on her bed to the floor except for two pillows and goes to bed.

At the end of the short the Peeping Tom while developing his photographs in his own developing room is busted by his wife. She tosses the photos in his face and orders him to come to dinner at one. The Peeping Tom is bewildered as she slams the door closed.

Cast

Production

The film humorously censors itself by blocking a revealing scene in which the narrator deadpans, "and that man's here again." However, the release was not without controversy. A copyright infringement suit was filed against Elaine Barrie and Dwain Esper claiming that E. K. Nadel had exclusive rights to the title. Moreover, Elaine Barrie appeared in the film during her tumultuous marriage to John Barrymore, infuriating the Barrymore family.