Il cattivo la inseguiva ancora

This absurd parody of Victorian melodramas watched in the right frame of mind is very enjoyable. The cast attacks the material with the proper degree of whimsy playing it broadly, the only reasonable approach to something designed to be this silly.

The director and studio were wise to cast character actors with a talent for either farce or slapstick and then give them free rein to dig into the ridiculous situations with aplomb. The biggest surprise is probably Anita Louise, an busy and very lovely actress until her retirement but not especially known for her comedic skills. In this she jumps right into the mood of the proceedings playing a character that can only be described as an imbecile in her naiveté. By playing it straight and never winking at the audience she makes the woman an object of sympathy no matter how dumb she seems.

If you start watching this expecting anything but an overblown bit of ridiculousness you will either be disappointed or irritated.

Surprisingly, still very funny affectionate parody of silent cinema cliches. A cult film ahead of it's time.

This review will be roundly slapped down as 'Not Helpful'. But with the best will in the world this teaming of the director of 'Never Give a Sucker an Even Break' and the cameraman of 'The Wild Bunch' with a dream cast never takes flight, and sadly outstays it's welcome. 'Hellzapoppin' managed the same idea with far more success the following year.

Had it been just part of a longer film - like the melodrama 'The Drunkard' in 'The Old Fashioned Way' - it might have been quite diverting; but doesn't sustain a full-length feature, even one clocking in at barely an hour. Buster Keaton is utterly wasted, again, although Margaret Hamilton is briefly permitted to display a surprisingly attractive singing voice.

Introduced by bombastic Billy Gilbert, the story begins in old New York, where moustache-twirling lawyer Alan Mowbray (as Silas Cribbs) is trying to get control of the estate recently inherited by handsome young Richard Cromwell (as Edward Middleton). The lascivious Mr. Mowbray is also interested in harp-playing beauty Anita Louise (as Mary Wilson), who finds her true love is Mr. Cromwell. After the lovebirds wed, Mowbray tries to gain control over Cromwell with alcohol...

This broad parody of old-time melodramas may initially be taken as a bad movie, but it's a surprisingly clever spoof, for the time.

Unfortunately, the film stays in a mildly amusing mode for most of the running time, and depends on a mediocre pie-in-the-face for its comedy climax. With their tongues pressed firmly in cheek, Cromwell and Mowbray make swell scenery-chewing, eyebrow-raising impressions. As Ms. Louise's mother, marvelous Margaret Hamilton matches the melodramatics. While miscast as Cromwell's boyhood pal, silent legend Buster Keaton is a bonus. Farm animals offer deadpan counterpoint.

******* The Villain Still Pursued Her (10/11/40) Edward F. Cline ~ Richard Cromwell, Alan Mowbray, Buster Keaton, Anita Louise

This is an excellent example of parody. People that like the later humour in Airplane might see a few early hints of it here. Keaton and the villain were especially good.