A work in constant progress (and occasional regress).
Featuring:
Max Davidson, Lillian Elliott, Spec O'Donnell
Written by:
Leo McCarey
Hal Roach
Directed by:
Leo McCarey
Release Date:
October 23, 1927
Original Title:
Should Second Husbands Come First?
Genres:
Comedy
Production Companies:
Hal Roach Studios
Production Countries:
United States of America
Ratings / Certifications:
US: NR
Runtime: 20
A woman's two sons pretend to be insane in order to de-rail their mother's plans to remarry.
This is one of the funniest silent shorts I have ever seen. Mr. Wattles (Max Davidson) is courting a Jewish dowager played by Lillian Elliot, and matrimony looms on the horizon. The lady's two sons have a strong disinclination to acquire a new step-father, so they decided to scare him off. In the funniest sequence, Mr. Wattles is left seated in the parlor while his inamorata prepares some refreshments. The sons perform a series of visual gags in the open doorway that is totally bizarre, funny and original. At the wedding, the sons crash the ceremony disguised as an outraged father and his dishonored daughter whom Mr. Wattles got with child and abandoned. Unfortunately for the schemers, the only baby they could borrow for the ensemble happened to be the wrong color. They put make-up on the child's face and hands, but when the diaper slips down exposing the child's undoctored posterior the jig is up. If you are into being politically correct and are offended by ethnic humor, you won't like this comedy classic (or any other Max Davidson shorts for that matter). If you have an open mind and love visual comedy, this is the silent short for you.
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