Benchley was also hired to help with the book for a George Gershwin musical, "Smarty," starring Fred Astaire — Benchley’s name and Fred Thompson’s were listed as the book writers on the sheet music issued during the try—out period. This experience was not as positive, and most of Benchley's contributions were excised and the final product, "Funny Face", did not have Benchley's name attached. Worn down, Benchley moved to his next commitment, an attempt at a talkie version of "The Treasurer's Report". The filming went by quickly, and though he was convinced he was not good, "The Treasurer's Report" was a financial and critical success upon its release in 1928. Benchley participated in two more films that year: a second talking film he wrote, "The Sex Life of the Polyp," and a third starring but not written by him, "The Spellbinder", all made in the Fox Movietone sound-on-film system and released by Fox Films. The films enjoyed similar success and were critically acclaimed, and Benchley was signed to a deal to produce more films before heading back to New York to continue writing. As "Life" would say following his eventual resignation in 1929, "Mr. Benchley has left Dramatic Criticism for the Talking Movies".