One Hysterical Night

This was Reginald Denny's first talking picture and one that he co-wrote as well. It has a great idea - A domineering woman is angry that her two sons will not inherit a relative's three million dollar estate, and that it instead will go to a nephew (Reginald Denny as William Judd). But there is an insanity clause in the will - if Judd is deemed of unsound mind the money goes to her family.

So she cooks up a scheme to make Judd think there are no hard feelings and has her sons ask him to a "fancy dress ball" that is happening that night at one of their friend's homes. They tell Judd that first prize goes to the person who stays in character the best and have Judd dress up as Napoleon. Meanwhile, the scheming aunt goes to "The Home for the Historical" - a sanitarium - lamenting that her nephew believes he is Napoleon, she wants to have him committed, and she will bring him there that night to prove he is insane.

The reason the insane asylum is called "The Home for the Historical" is that all of the inmates believe they are historical characters - Salome, William Tell, Robin Hood, etc. Judd, knowing none of this, shows up at the sanitarium thinking it is a private home and that the inmates are the other party goers. The head doctor is convinced that Judd is insane and Judd's relatives leave believing they are in the money.

How will Judd ever get out of this? Watch and find out. Denny gives a good performance, but the part at the sanitarium with the interaction of the inmates goes on for about 15 minutes more than necessary. This was a film that has a story that would have been too much to stuff into a two reel short and is really to thin to stretch into a feature. Still I think it is worth a look for its original idea and very natural acting considering it is a very early talkie.

William Judd (Reginald Denny) is heir to the family fortune. His jealous aunt and cousins plot to part him from it, feeling they should have received it in the first place. There is a clause that states Judd must be of sound mind to get the inheritance, so they set out to prove he is insane. They convince him they are going to a costume party and give him a Napoleon suit to wear. They tell him there is a big prize involved and they have a good shot at winning if he sticks to the part absolutely. Then they take him to a sanitarium for evaluation. Everyone there thinks he is a historical figure, one of whom feels especially roiled by Napoleon, of which they've had many over the years. Judd plays along famously and gets himself committed. He realizes what is going on too late and must prove his sanity among the insane.

The sanitarium is impressive, and the inmates must be very wealthy because the rooms are impressively large and furnished with historically accurate furniture pieces. There are a few good laughs and shocking lines. The story idea is a clever one, but it would have been much better suited to a two-reel comedy rather than a feature film. The gags run on too long and the story becomes tedious. However, it is very memorable.

This film was screened at Capitolfest in 2017.