After the subject of this ill-spirited comedy is thrown out of a cab -- presumably by a passenger; the beginning of this 1914 reissue is missing -- he attempts various jobs, all without success, all ending disastrously.
The BFI thinks this orphan film is the one on their YouTube Site, titled "The Man Who Never Made Good". The camerawork and acting is consistent with British movies from this era, with its simple camera setups and medium-length cuts. As for the humor of it, I find it mean-spirited, a problem with many farces. It is funny to watch someone who deserves it suffer, but it lacks the spark of empathy that I treasure in my comedies. That's why I consider this one not particularly good. Still, as a survival of the era, I treasure it.
The BFI thinks this orphan film is the one on their YouTube Site, titled "The Man Who Never Made Good". The camerawork and acting is consistent with British movies from this era, with its simple camera setups and medium-length cuts. As for the humor of it, I find it mean-spirited, a problem with many farces. It is funny to watch someone who deserves it suffer, but it lacks the spark of empathy that I treasure in my comedies. That's why I consider this one not particularly good. Still, as a survival of the era, I treasure it.
