They Would Elope

San Francisco's 14th annual Silent Film Festival premiered the recently restored "Bardelys the Magnicifient" with the adjoining short, "They Would Elope" which was celebrating its own hundredth anniversary. The short was in EXCELLENT condition though reminded one of the days of the "flickers" due to its nature of jumping from scene to scene in a bumpy fashion. Plotwise, was very simple and follows what the title says, and most of the acting was amateurish except for Mary Pickford. She came across lovely and charming and looked as if she was actually enjoying herself whilst performing. However, Miss Pickford also came across understanding the essence of her character, so this made her character's motivations and actions completely believable.

Billy Quirk asks Mary Pickford to marry him. She agrees, but fears her parents will forbid the wedding. So Mary writes a letter stating she doesn't care and they run away. While they are undergoing a harrowing series of discouraging obstacles, her parents have invited everyone in to celebrate the good news.

It's quite charming, and with Billy Quirk now D. W. Griffith's comedy star - John Cumpson about to leave for larger paychecks - he brings a lot of energy to the role. As Miss Pickford grows wearied, he keeps urging them onward as cart wheels collapse, auto engines explode, and the Passaic River threatens to drown them.

It will surprise people who think that Griffith directed only dramas, to see this lively little comedy, but with more than 70 movies to direct that year, and two such charming comedians, some had to be funny!

Among the hundreds of films D. W. Griffith made, very few were comedies and "They Would Elope" is as close to a comedy as I've seen among his work. As such, it's a nice change of pace.

When the story begins, Harry and Bessie are in love and decide to run off to get married without asking her parents' permission or having an elaborate wedding. However, instead of being upset, Bessie's parents are overjoyed and plan on throwing the couple a surprise party upon their return. Unfortunately for the couple, all sorts of complications occur when they try to get married!

This film is much more watchable and timeless than most of Griffith's films...pleasant and the overacting is at a minimum. My only complaint is the raccoon-like eye makeup on Bessie's father. What's with that?!

Having made her screen debut in 'The Violin Maker of Cremona', Mary Pickford went on to team up with Billy Quirk in 'Sweet and Twenty', 'His Wife's Visitor's' and this film. She became America's darling even though she was Canadian.

Mary Pickford didn't do much slapstick as far as I can tell in her early Biographs with D. W. Griffith. Here she is terrific having car accidents, wheel-barrow accidents and boat accidents as she tries to elope with boyfriend Billy Quirk.

Notice the distinction between the outdoor and indoor scenes. The indoor scenes put you in a front row seat watching a stage play. The viewer is always conscience of watching a play. The outdoor scenes jerks the viewer into a real rural landscape with the cars, wheelbarrows and boat as wonderful props. These outdoor scenes feel more like a dream. These two quite different realities add depth to the action and story.

It is wonderful to see Max Sennett playing his yokel character that he played in so many of his own Keystone comedies starting in around 1912.

This is a must-see for fans of silent film comedy.