A DVD transfer of an abbreviated copy has been uploaded to YouTube (with Russian titles) and runs just under an hour. The description of the video adds some historical facts. The added musical score features themes familiar to Laurel and Hardy fans.
Molly O'Dair, daughter of an Irish washerwoman, is pursued by the uncouth Danny Smith. Molly meets a young doctor named John Bryant while she is delivering a package of laundry. Bryant is engaged to Miriam Manchester, sister of Fred Manchester, who senses a big payout after his sister marries the doctor. Molly attends a masquerade ball, with Bryant and Miriam in attendance. By coincidence, Molly wears the same costume as Miriam, and Bryant mistakes Molly for his fiancée. This enrages Miriam, who returns his engagement ring. Smith, who is also at the party, is similarly angered. Bryant follows Molly home, where he rescues her from Smith. As Bryant and Molly embrace, Molly's father sees them, and kicks Molly out of the house. She goes to Bryant's home. The next morning, Molly's parents head to Bryant's home, where Mr. O'Dair pulls a gun on the doctor. But Bryant disarms him and tells him he plans to marry Molly. The O'Dair family takes up residence in the doctor's home. Molly's brother, who loses money to Manchester, forges a check. Molly meets Manchester in a blimp, to settle things. Manchester starts up the blimp, and Molly's brother notifies Bryant what has happened. Bryant takes a plane, boards the blimp, rescues Molly, and the two parachute to safety.
Thanks to contemporaneous synopses I found, I was able to understand and enjoy most of the film. At one point, I even realized I didn't need subtitles. Normand is very charming as the heroine, and the few romantic scenes she shares with Mulhall range from cute to almost steamy. Sherman, as usual, makes a good scumbag. Several contemporaneous reviewers panned the climactic blimp sequence, suggesting it was simply tacked on to add some excitement. In any case, the sequence is well-staged with some good stunt work.
The supporting cast is good. Carl Stockdale plays an odd character, who cuts out a silhouette of Normand during one scene, and helps with her costume later on:
Molly O'Dair, daughter of an Irish washerwoman, is pursued by the uncouth Danny Smith. Molly meets a young doctor named John Bryant while she is delivering a package of laundry. Bryant is engaged to Miriam Manchester, sister of Fred Manchester, who senses a big payout after his sister marries the doctor. Molly attends a masquerade ball, with Bryant and Miriam in attendance. By coincidence, Molly wears the same costume as Miriam, and Bryant mistakes Molly for his fiancée. This enrages Miriam, who returns his engagement ring. Smith, who is also at the party, is similarly angered. Bryant follows Molly home, where he rescues her from Smith. As Bryant and Molly embrace, Molly's father sees them, and kicks Molly out of the house. She goes to Bryant's home. The next morning, Molly's parents head to Bryant's home, where Mr. O'Dair pulls a gun on the doctor. But Bryant disarms him and tells him he plans to marry Molly. The O'Dair family takes up residence in the doctor's home. Molly's brother, who loses money to Manchester, forges a check. Molly meets Manchester in a blimp, to settle things. Manchester starts up the blimp, and Molly's brother notifies Bryant what has happened. Bryant takes a plane, boards the blimp, rescues Molly, and the two parachute to safety.
Thanks to contemporaneous synopses I found, I was able to understand and enjoy most of the film. At one point, I even realized I didn't need subtitles. Normand is very charming as the heroine, and the few romantic scenes she shares with Mulhall range from cute to almost steamy. Sherman, as usual, makes a good scumbag. Several contemporaneous reviewers panned the climactic blimp sequence, suggesting it was simply tacked on to add some excitement. In any case, the sequence is well-staged with some good stunt work.
The supporting cast is good. Carl Stockdale plays an odd character, who cuts out a silhouette of Normand during one scene, and helps with her costume later on: