I am giving A SUBMARINE PIRATE a relatively high score of 7 even though it didn't seem all that funny. That's because compared to other films from 1915, this is a better than average comedy and all the totally pointless kicking and shooting were rather typical clichés from films of that era. In my opinion, silent comedies weren't particularly good during this time period and really came into their own in the 1920s when they studios refined the humor and bonking someone on the head or kicking them was no longer the big laugh-getter!
Despite the sparsity of laughs, the film is amazingly long and complex for a 1915 product. By comparison, most of Charlie Chaplin's films from 1914-1915 were about 8 minutes and had only the barest of plots. Here, half-brother, Syd Chaplin, was given nearly half an hour--practically full-length for the time. As a result, the film was much more plot-driven than the norm.
The film begins with Syd (donning a Kaiser Wilhelm-style mustache) a waiter in a restaurant. Two men are plotting to use a submarine to rob ships. Instead of telling the authorities, Syd decides to use their secret signal to get on the boat first and do the robbing himself. Much of this portion of the movie was slapstick but there were also a few good bits. Seeing Syd do the routine with the hat as well as his juggling were very entertaining.
Later, Syd's in an ill-fitting captain's uniform and gives the signal for the sub to take him aboard. Despite the plan, in the end the plot is stopped thanks to the Navy and you see some bizarre but funny bits with the periscope and the final scene where an obviously fake fish bites Syd in the head that still made me laugh. While nothing earth-shattering in these bits, they were cute and kept my attention.
I'd love to know more about is the sub used in the final half of the movie. The film makers actually were able to use a real submarine and I would love to know how they got permission to do this. I also would like to know if the long shots of Syd on the deck of the submerging ship were actually him or not--it's hard to tell and looked awfully dangerous.
Overall, a decent film that is still watchable today. A must for silent movie fans but not especially necessary for the casual film goer.
Despite the sparsity of laughs, the film is amazingly long and complex for a 1915 product. By comparison, most of Charlie Chaplin's films from 1914-1915 were about 8 minutes and had only the barest of plots. Here, half-brother, Syd Chaplin, was given nearly half an hour--practically full-length for the time. As a result, the film was much more plot-driven than the norm.
The film begins with Syd (donning a Kaiser Wilhelm-style mustache) a waiter in a restaurant. Two men are plotting to use a submarine to rob ships. Instead of telling the authorities, Syd decides to use their secret signal to get on the boat first and do the robbing himself. Much of this portion of the movie was slapstick but there were also a few good bits. Seeing Syd do the routine with the hat as well as his juggling were very entertaining.
Later, Syd's in an ill-fitting captain's uniform and gives the signal for the sub to take him aboard. Despite the plan, in the end the plot is stopped thanks to the Navy and you see some bizarre but funny bits with the periscope and the final scene where an obviously fake fish bites Syd in the head that still made me laugh. While nothing earth-shattering in these bits, they were cute and kept my attention.
I'd love to know more about is the sub used in the final half of the movie. The film makers actually were able to use a real submarine and I would love to know how they got permission to do this. I also would like to know if the long shots of Syd on the deck of the submerging ship were actually him or not--it's hard to tell and looked awfully dangerous.
Overall, a decent film that is still watchable today. A must for silent movie fans but not especially necessary for the casual film goer.