What! No Beer? (1933) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A comic struggle over beer, business, and Prohibition culminates in a crowd-driven escape and the legalization of beer.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Vote For Wet Beer

Elmer encounters Hortense and Butch at a dry rally before Jimmy persuades him to support wet politics. Their chaotic visit to the polls leads directly to Jimmy's beer-business proposal.

Key Events

• Dry Rally Encounter — Elmer follows Hortense and her bootlegger boyfriend Butch into a dry rally. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Hortense, Butch Lorado Location: Dry rally meeting hall
• Wet Vote Persuasion — Jimmy uses his pro-booze car to persuade Elmer to vote wet. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Jimmy Potts Location: Street
• Polling Booth Chaos — Elmer and Jimmy cause confusion and wreck the voting booths. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Jimmy Potts Location: Polling place
• Million-Dollar Beer Idea — Jimmy proposes making beer for a thirsty public after Prohibition ends. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Jimmy Potts Location: Street

The Brewery Gamble

Elmer reveals his hidden savings and buys a derelict brewery with Jimmy. Their early bottling efforts become increasingly chaotic as bottles explode and foam fills the workplace.

Key Events

• Hidden Savings Revealed — Elmer reveals that he has $10,000 hidden inside his stuffed animals. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Jimmy Potts Location: Elmer's taxidermy workspace
• Brewery Purchase — Elmer uses his hidden savings to buy a derelict brewery. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Jimmy Potts Location: Derelict brewery
• Bottling Operation Begins — Elmer and his hired hands begin bottling as much beer as possible. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Jimmy Potts Location: Brewery
• Exploding Bottles — Bottles explode and foam piles over the brewery workers. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Jimmy Potts Location: Brewery
• First Brewery Raid — Police raid the brewery because Prohibition has not yet officially ended. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Jimmy Potts Location: Brewery

Bootleggers Under Pressure

The first police raid exposes the danger of brewing before repeal. Spike fears the end of his operation, while Butch discusses business interests and vows to eliminate competition.

Key Events

• Bootlegger Anxiety — Spike realizes that threatened repeal could destroy his bootlegging operation. Characters: Spike Moran Location: Bootlegging operation
• Business Interests Discussed — Spike and Butch meet to discuss their threatened business interests. Characters: Spike Moran, Butch Lorado Location: Meeting place
• Competition Threatened — Butch vows to eliminate competition as alcohol legalization approaches. Characters: Butch Lorado Location: Meeting place

Barrels Against The Gang

Elmer attempts a beer delivery and survives an attack when rolling barrels chase away the would-be killers. Butch then claims a partnership in the brewery, increasing the pressure on Elmer.

Key Events

• Beer Truck Delivery — Elmer decides to deliver beer himself and drives a loaded truck uphill. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Jimmy Potts Location: Steep street
• Street Ambush — Butch's men try to kill Elmer during his delivery. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Butch Lorado Location: Street
• Rolling Barrel Escape — Barrels fall from the truck and chase away the attackers. Characters: Elmer J. Butts Location: Street
• Forced Brewery Partnership — Butch declares himself the new partner in Elmer's brewery. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Butch Lorado Location: Brewery
• Hortense's Warning — Hortense secretly warns Elmer that another police raid is imminent. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Hortense Location: Brewery

The Crowd's Final Escape

Hortense warns Elmer about another raid, allowing him to escape and advertise free beer. The crowd empties the brewery before police arrive, and beer becomes legal afterward.

Key Events

• Hortense's Warning — Hortense secretly warns Elmer that another police raid is imminent. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Hortense Location: Brewery
• Barrel Escape — Elmer escapes in a barrel, grabs a blackboard, and drives away. Characters: Elmer J. Butts Location: Brewery
• Free Beer Announcement — Elmer displays a message announcing free beer at the brewery. Characters: Elmer J. Butts Location: Street
• Crowd Storms Brewery — A crowd overwhelms the brewery, consuming the beer before authorities arrive. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Butch Lorado Location: Brewery
• Evidence Disappears — Police arrive to find no beer and no evidence, frustrating both the raid and Butch. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Butch Lorado Location: Brewery
• Congressional Beer Story — A senator tells Congress how the brewery crowd put gangsters out of business. Location: Congress
• Beer Becomes Legal — Beer becomes legal after the political shift surrounding Prohibition. Location: United States
• Beer Garden Celebration — Elmer and Jimmy arrive to a mob, and Jimmy raises a frosty beer for the audience. Characters: Elmer J. Butts, Jimmy Potts Location: Butts's Beer Garden

Story Breakdown

• Political Awakening — Elmer is drawn into the public conflict surrounding the possible end of Prohibition.
  • Dry Rally Encounter — Elmer follows Hortense and Butch into a dry political rally.
  • Polling Booth Chaos — Jimmy persuades Elmer to vote wet, and their visit damages the voting booths.
• Beer Business Dream — Jimmy's proposal and Elmer's savings transform their friendship into a risky business venture.
  • Million-Dollar Idea — Jimmy proposes producing beer for a thirsty public.
  • Hidden Savings — Elmer retrieves $10,000 hidden inside his stuffed animals.
• Chaotic Brewing — The new brewery produces beer through slapstick accidents and mounting legal danger.
  • Brewery Purchase — Elmer uses his savings to acquire a derelict brewery.
  • Exploding Bottles — Bottles explode and foam overwhelms the brewing operation.
• Bootlegger Resistance — The threatened end of Prohibition alarms established bootleggers and places Elmer's business in danger.
  • Police Raid — Police raid the brewery because repeal is not yet official.
  • Competition Threat — Butch vows to eliminate competition while Spike sees his operation failing.
• Street Survival — Elmer faces direct physical danger before Butch attempts to take over the brewery.
  • Beer Truck Ambush — Butch's men try to kill Elmer during a delivery.
  • Rolling Barrel Escape — Falling barrels chase the attackers away from Elmer.
• Crowd Driven Victory — Hortense's warning and Elmer's improvised advertisement turn the public into an accidental defense force.
  • Free Beer Message — Elmer displays a blackboard announcing free beer at the brewery.
  • Brewery Overrun — The crowd consumes the beer before police can find evidence.
• Legal Celebration — The brewery incident becomes a public story, beer becomes legal, and Elmer and Jimmy celebrate.
  • Congressional Account — A senator recounts how the crowd put gangsters out of business.
  • Beer Garden Finale — Jimmy raises a frosty beer while another crowd surrounds the pair.

Directed by

Edward Sedgwick

Key Cast

• Buster Keaton — Elmer J. Butts
• Jimmy Durante — Jimmy Potts
• Roscoe Ates — Schultz
• Phyllis Barry — Hortense
• John Miljan — Butch Lorado