Over the Back Fence (1913) User Reviews

Pyramus and Thisbe

[boblipton · 6/10 · 3 July 2016]

Harry Beaumont and Bessie Learn are in love, but their respective uncle and aunt, back fence neighbors, feud bitterly with each other and insist the youngsters have nothing to do with each other. The young leads come up with a plan in this pleasant Edison comedy.

There are some nice bits in this piece as directed by Edison regular C.J. Williams. Not only is the acting good, but there is a pleasant structure offered by the title cards which show what a difference a week can make. you can see this one for yourself. It is in the Eye Insritute site on Youtube.

Harry Beaumont's career as a movie actor would only last until 1918, but that would not end his involvement with the movies. Beginning the year after this picture, he would start directing and his career would extend through 1948, including a long tenure at MGM, where his career would peak in the 1930s.

It doesn't provide anything exceptional

[deickemeyer · 16 July 2017]

The opening situation of this picture doesn't promise anything out of the ordinary, and, except for pretty scenes and pretty acting it doesn't provide anything exceptional. The author seems to have seated himself and turned out a conventional commercial comedy. There is some freshness in his idea, but it is not rich in true comedy. Indeed, we think that nearly all the comedy comes from the producer and the players, who deserve credit for making an entertaining, if not very substantial, offering. The photography is almost perfect. C.J. Williams is the producer, with William Wadsworth and Alice Washburn playing the older people, and Harry Beaumont and Bessie Learn in the parts of the two young folks. All are surely acceptable. Marion Carr is the author. The picture made a ripple of laughter which came and came again while it was on the screen. - The Moving Picture World, February 15, 1913