planktonrules

Unlike many of Mack Swain's comedies for Keystone Pictures, he doesn't play Ambrose but an actor named Handsome Jack. His latest movie is about to premier at a nickelodeon and he's sure to be there to see it...and get noticed for his wonderful acting. However, as the film progresses, not everyone in the audience is impressed with the hammy actor...much to the annoyance of Jack...and Jack's wife.

As you watch the picture, you'll likely notice that not only was a musical score later added to the movie during the talking picture era, but sound effects as well. They were likely added in the early 1930s...and this was a common practice with silent shorts. Fortunately, the print quality is quite good for a film this old, as many are severely degraded or completely disintegrated over time.

I liked this film more than the usual Keystone comedy of the era. Why? Well, too many relied on slapstick for laughs. This literally meant the actors would punch, kick and shoot at each other for little reason...and the audiences loved it. This sort of simplistic filmmaking didn't last long, as audiences did tire of the antics and wanted more, such a plots, from the comedy shorts. Here, there is violence at the end...but it is earned and doesn't dominate the film or take the place of plot.

When the story begins, Ambrose (Mack Swain) is making a dress and he's measuring Louise Fazenda for this. However, despite some guys watching this outside, what they DON'T see is Ambrose then getting a dummy to use for the dress. But when he hacks off the arms with a hatchet, the men outisde think he's some sort of axe murderer! And, when he throws the dummy into a lake, folks think it's a dead woman...and all sorts of complications result.

The plot to this one is pretty gruesome for 1915, though it is funny and Ambrose isn't really some murderer...though he has a hard time convincing everyone. Overall, a relatively short film (only one reel) and a funny one.

Mack Swain first played the Ambrose character while working at Keystone Studio. However, after leaving to work for other companies (in this case The L-KO Kompany), he continued to make Ambrose comedies.

In this film, Ambrose receives a letter saying he's inherited a seaside hotel. Once at the Wave Crest Inn, TWO people named 'U. R. Dunn' arrive...causing quite the confusion. One is a broker whose wife arrives and the broker is expected the next day. The other is a man who makes garbage cans...and Ambrose puts him in the room with the broker's wife! So how does it all end? Well...I have no idea as the final portion of the film is missing...a not very uncommon thing for such early movies.

It's really a shame that the final portion is not known to exist any more. It's because unlike most of the slapstick comedies of the day, this one has more plot and subtlety...and I assume in its complete form would be a really good Ambrose film.