While many of Charley Bowers' films from the silent era no longer exist due to the ravages of time on nitrate film stock, most of those that remain feature him as an amazing crackpot inventor. However, this one is very much unlike these films and features the comic in a much more conventional type film--one I could have easily imagined Keaton or even Chaplin starring in instead.
The film begins with Charley being thrown out of his girlfriend's house (literally). It seems that his prospective father-in-law refuses to allow her to marry any man who isn't a cop! So, Charley goes to sign up with the police. These police have very low standards, as the only requirements to join the force are your height and weight. Poor Charley is a small guy but he comes up with a way around this (you'll have to see it for yourself). As a cop, Charley is pretty awful--making a mess of most everything.
A few things about the movie made me laugh. First, I loved the formula that the moonshiners used to make "bathtub gin". I also liked seeing the moving pictures in the room. The only problem with this scene is that part of it is missing. It started with Charley outside the house and then in the very next scene, he's inside with his police helmet dented and he appears to be under the influence. I assume the bad guys grabbed him and made him drink some of their nasty concoction--but this is only a guess.
Overall, a decent silent comedy. While it's far from Bowers' best, at least it's a nice change of pace.
The film begins with Charley being thrown out of his girlfriend's house (literally). It seems that his prospective father-in-law refuses to allow her to marry any man who isn't a cop! So, Charley goes to sign up with the police. These police have very low standards, as the only requirements to join the force are your height and weight. Poor Charley is a small guy but he comes up with a way around this (you'll have to see it for yourself). As a cop, Charley is pretty awful--making a mess of most everything.
A few things about the movie made me laugh. First, I loved the formula that the moonshiners used to make "bathtub gin". I also liked seeing the moving pictures in the room. The only problem with this scene is that part of it is missing. It started with Charley outside the house and then in the very next scene, he's inside with his police helmet dented and he appears to be under the influence. I assume the bad guys grabbed him and made him drink some of their nasty concoction--but this is only a guess.
Overall, a decent silent comedy. While it's far from Bowers' best, at least it's a nice change of pace.
