The Water Plug

Billy Franey stars in this one-reel comedy as a bum who spots a water plug that can be moved and a detective's badge at a junk store. He steals bother and uses them in a scam, placing the plug next to a parked car and dunning the driver when he returns for a parking fine.

It's a moderately entertaining comedy, although the central gag is repeated with too many minor variations a bit too often. It develops into a Billy-vs-cops routine. Not at all bad for a states rights release.

Franey worked for many of the comedy specialists during the silent era, usually as a supporting performer. His final appearances were as Edgar Kennedy's father-in-law in Kennedy's COMMON MAN series. He died in 1940 at the age of 51.

"The Water Plug" is a comedy short with a very simple plot. Billy Franey plays a hobo who is in search of a quick buck. He soon sees a cop writing a guy a ticket for parking next to a fire plug....and the guy receiving the ticket gives the cop a $10 bribe to tear up the ticket. So, Billy grabs a badge and a fake fire plug (??) and runs around town sticking it next to cars and then taking bribes in order to not write the folks tickets. Unfortunately, real police soon show up and give chase.

The plot to this film is about as simple as you can find....but it IS funny and holds up well today. Very clever and fun.