American aviator Captain Bob White flies to Berlin, to get information on the Kaiser for the United States government. He poses as a woman to get in good with the Kaiser, the Crown Prince, and von Hindenburg. Slapstick ensues.
My reaction to this thing was muted. There was very little plot, and it seemed as if every ten seconds somebody was getting slapped, choked, thrown around, conked on the head, etc. This probably killed audiences post-World War I, but now, it seems way too long to endure. On the other hand, the film features a rare appearance by female impersonator Bothwell Browne, as Bob White. Browne once was quoted as saying that "prettiness is only skin deep. Beauty comes from within." But he also once said that women from Los Angeles were "feminine apes," which hardly seems endearing to anyone.
One of the many issues I had with the film was that stuff just happens, seemingly without rhyme or reason. For instance, Browne flies to Germany, then simply emerges from the woods dressed as a woman. This does not seem to concern Ben Turpin, who is on guard. Then again, all the Germans are portrayed as buffoons, so I guess no one would question why a well-dressed woman appears on the scene and begins flirting with everyone.
One scene I did like was near the finale, when a bomb is chasing the Kaiser, the Crown Prince, and General von Hindenburg:
My reaction to this thing was muted. There was very little plot, and it seemed as if every ten seconds somebody was getting slapped, choked, thrown around, conked on the head, etc. This probably killed audiences post-World War I, but now, it seems way too long to endure. On the other hand, the film features a rare appearance by female impersonator Bothwell Browne, as Bob White. Browne once was quoted as saying that "prettiness is only skin deep. Beauty comes from within." But he also once said that women from Los Angeles were "feminine apes," which hardly seems endearing to anyone.
One of the many issues I had with the film was that stuff just happens, seemingly without rhyme or reason. For instance, Browne flies to Germany, then simply emerges from the woods dressed as a woman. This does not seem to concern Ben Turpin, who is on guard. Then again, all the Germans are portrayed as buffoons, so I guess no one would question why a well-dressed woman appears on the scene and begins flirting with everyone.
One scene I did like was near the finale, when a bomb is chasing the Kaiser, the Crown Prince, and General von Hindenburg: