A Firehouse Honeymoon

Harry Sweet and Lee Kinney are honeymooning at Niagara Falls. But there's a convention in town, and no rooms. Fortunately, local fireman Monte Collins offer them a bed at the firehouse. They accept, only to find the whole brigade also sleeps there.

Harry is a forgotten man these days, but a key player in silent comedy, both as an actor and director, and in the establishment of RKO as a comedy shorts powerhouse; he directed fifteen of Edgar Kennedy's THE COMMON MAN shorts before he died in 1933 at the age of 31, when a plan he was in went down into Big Bear Lake.

Here, under the direction of George Marshall, there are lots of fine touches, from the manner in which the eager newlyweds are told there are no rooms to be had, to the funny symbolic touches of firehoses, firehouse poles, and even locked doors. I've seen the same situation used elsewhere, but never better.

The short comedy begins with a couple arriving in Niagara Falls on their honeymoon. However, there's a convention in town and they cannot find a room. Fortunately(?), an old boyfriend of the bride invites them to stay with him at the firehouse. Of course, they have no privacy and EVERYONE seems to ignore the groom and the bride behaves pretty much like a single girl.

This is just a strange film...funny but also just weird and totally unique. My only major regret is that the film begins as a musical...and the scene where they arrive at the hotel is hilarious as everyone breaks into song. But oddly, then the singing stops. Worth a look and funny in spots...but it's also one that is far from a must-see comedy.