Just Nuts

A rough and tumble picture of the Charles Chaplin sort, containing a great deal of very good farce comedy. It is warranted to please most audiences. The "Nuts" just do a lot of foolish things that make people laugh. - The Moving Picture World, April 24, 1915

Here's one movie I never expected to see. This was made as a test by Hal Roach, with Harold Lloyd as "Willie Work" to see if he could get a contract with Pathe -- he couldn't off this one. Roach's stuff has a very good survival rate, because Pathe released them and reissued them in show-at-home versions. There was nary a word of this one, so it looked like it was gone. However, one copy turned up at the Museum of Modern Art and it was shown this evening as part of the latest series of Cruel & Unusual Comedy.

It may be unusual, and it may be cruel, but I disagree with the assessment of most of the audience, who thought it very funny, judging by the laughter. I think it is chaotic and has an air of "Harold hasn't kicked anyone in seven seconds -- attack some one now." It would take Roach a few years to retreat to the business office, hire real talent and let Lloyd learn the craft of comedy.