Wife and Auto Trouble (1916)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Directors:

Dell Henderson
Mack Sennett

Writer:

Roy Del Ruth (scenario)

Release Date:

5 March 1916 (USA)

Genre:

Short | Comedy

Plot:

A mild-mannered man's problems with his domineering wife and mother-in-law lead to complications with the law.

Plot Keywords:

Mother In Law | Secretary | Brother In Law | Office Romance | Marriage

Cast

William Collier Sr.	...	A meek husband (as William Collier)
Blanche Payson	...	His wife
Joseph Belmont	...	His Brother-In-Law
Alice Davenport	...	His Mother-In-Law
Mae Busch	...	A speedy stenographer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jimmy Bryant	...	Tri-Stone Cop
Joseph Callahan	...	Tri-Stone Cop
Billy Gilbert	...	Tri-Stone Cop
Al Kaufman	...	Tri-Stone Cop

Also Known As:

His Marriage Flivver (USA) (working title)
His Stenographer (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

14 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Company:

Keystone Film Company

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the street scene outside the Cafe Royale, bystanders in the background can be seen stopping to gawk at the movie being made. Most notably, while Collier's mother-in-law is being arrested, a man walks into frame behind her car, looks briefly at the camera, then kneels down in front of the car behind hers, as if to start it - then he quickly leaves the picture. In the same scene, a truck drives up in the street beyond the car, the driver realizes he's in the shot, then he backs up and hides behind the car that's directly behind Collier's car.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)

Title sums up story set at breakneck speed

Mack Sennett always felt that a good film must be incorporated with a steady to fast pace to keep the viewer busy. And in this production of his(which includes some self promotion in one sequence)is the perfect example. And if you thought special effects were in the dark ages during the silent era, think again. You will be reminded of the amazing mobility scenes in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon(2000) when watching Mae Busch leap up to a ten foot high ledge on a wall behind her. And the fire hydrant scene in "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World(1963) was done here first! The first rate cast includes former Broadway star William Collier, Sr., who would later be a major influence on John Ford's "Up the River"(1930). And Laurel and Hardy fans will need no introduction to Mae Busch, here playing a flirt. Last, but not least, the famous Keystone Kops turn up in the latter half of the movie. The plot concerns a dominant mother, her favored son, the disliked son-in-law, and his wife. The pretty secretary who attracts both men is thrown into the works, as well as a new car that was ordered for her, but taken by the wife. A frantic chase scene, that was always carried out to perfection in a Mack Sennett production is the highlight. Worth watching over and over again.