Teddy at the Throttle

Bobby Vernon (as Robert Knight) is a fickle-hearted youth. His girlfriend Gloria Swanson (as Gloria Dawn) lives down the hall with her dog Teddy (a Great Dane). Ms. Swanson's guardian is rascally Wallace Berry (as Henry Black); he is also in charge of Mr. Vernon's estate, which he is stealing from. In order to protect, and enhance, his stolen wealth, Mr. Berry plots with buxom sister May Emory - the two agree Ms. Emory will lure the unsuspecting Vernon into marriage.

Vernon excels in this film; particularly, watch his performance when proposing to Emory - his expressions, and word-perfect reading, make him easily understood. It's a great scene. Vernon's dance at the hotel (again, with Emory) is another highlight. Swanson and Berry (who married in real life) are terrific, as well. The production is first rate, including a beautifully photographed storm, and an exciting comic climax. Hang on as Vernon and Teddy take a bicycle to rescue Swanson from an approaching train!

********* Teddy at the Throttle (4/15/17) Clarence G. Badger ~ Bobby Vernon, Gloria Swanson, Wallace Berry, May Emory

Here's one of the best known of the Keystone pictures, a favorite for decades in show-at-home prints, from Blackhawk and on dvd. Robert Youngson used clips in his compilation films, and it's a thorough delight.

Part of the issue is that people seem to think that tying the heroine to railroad tracks or a log going through a sawmill are from the silent moves. Actually, they are drawn from melodramas, like BLUE JEANS, in which the train would run onto the stage as a spectacular bit. This short, with Wallace Beery playing a top-hatted villain who wants to marry Gloria Swanson -- they actually were married at the time -- is a spoof of all those melodramas.

Gloria Swanson hated doing slapstick according to her memoirs. She also had a very bad marriage with Beery. Well, it's funny, particularly when Teddy the Great Dane cuts loose.

There are times where movie viewers can feel the tension between divorcing stars when they appear in the same film. Gloria Swanson said she knew from their marriage night that she wouldn't last with actor Wallace Beery. Citing abuse and infidelity, the 17-year newlywed bride soon filed divorce papers. However, in California law, it takes a year to make the spilt official. The two actors were employed by Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios and were obligated to appear in the April 1917 release of "Teddy At The Throttle." Any observer knowing the back story of the pair's marriage can easily detect the venom Swanson throws at Beery, and him right back at her.

As agonizing as it was for Swanson to be in this picture with her abusive husband, critics claim "Teddy At The Throttle" is the best short comedy the actress had ever been in. Beery plays a heel who in the film is overseeing the finances of Swanson and next-door-friend Bobby Vernon. A complex will, with a later addendum added, causes swindler Beery and his equally greedy sister, played by May Emory, to take action against the pair, including Beery tying Swanson to railroad tracks.

One of the greatest dance numbers to be caught on film is the one between Emory and Vernon. Bobby defies gravity with his agile steps. Also, Teddy The Dog puts in a performance that, if an Oscar for animals were rewarded at the time, would overwhelmingly go to him for his incredible role as both companion and rescuer.

Teddy at the Throttle (1917)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Bobbie (Bobby Vernon), the good guy wants to marry Gloria (Gloria Swanson), the good girl but the evil Henry Black (Wallace Beery) wants to keep them apart so that he can keep stealing from their inheritance. TEDDY AT THE THROTTLE features a lot of familiar Keystone elements but I think the biggest is the fact that the majority of the running time is just padded out with boring stuff that doesn't make you laugh. Many people talk about the great action that this film has and it certainly has that but it doesn't happen until the final portion of the film. Once the action starts there's no question that the film picks up some speed but before you know it this segment is over and so is the film. This can't make up for the first fifteen or so minutes where nothing much is happening and the viewer just grows bored waiting for something to start. The one thing that keeps this movie watchable is being able to see some future stars just starting out. Swanson is good in her lead performance and I thought her then husband Beery was also very good in his role as the villain. I really didn't care too much for Vernon though. TEDDY AT THE THROTTLE is worth seeing for the stars but it's still far from a classic.

This is a pretty good slapstick comedy, with a good cast and a humorously implausible story line. The action builds up nicely as it goes along, and Gloria Swanson and Wallace Beery also make it well worth watching.

The story features Beery as a dishonest guardian who is managing the affairs of a young woman (Swanson) and a young man, in such a way that he brings profit to himself. Beery is very entertaining in the role, with just the right degree of exaggeration in his mannerisms and expressions to maximize the amusing effect without pushing it too far. He was very well-suited to playing this kind of slapstick villain.

The movie maintains a good tone and pace most of the time, keeping up the energy level while not taking itself too seriously. The climactic chase sequence is amusing, and it is filmed in such a way so as to let itself get away with some very zany developments. Overall, it's a good example of the better kind of the Mack Sennett-style manic short comedies.