I recently have rented several DVDs from Netflix that fall under the title "Old Time Comedy Classics". I know they have at least eight DVDs, as this is volume 8. The previous DVDs were earlier issues and were a good bit funnier than those in volume 8, though I still haven't been all that impressed with any of the entries. It seems that these are all lesser-known silent comedies and I can easily see why they aren't as well known--most just aren't that funny.
THE DANGER GIRL is definitely an example of these limp films in this installment. The biggest problem is that although the plot isn't bad, it really looks almost nothing like a comedy as there isn't much to laugh at--neither slapstick nor more sophisticated humor.
The plot involves poor old Gloria Swanson trying to get her boyfriend (Bobby Vernon) to stop paying attention to "the Danger Girl"--a rich vamp who inexplicably is pursued by ardent admirers. So, to foil Vernon's attempts to catch the danger gal's heart, Gloria dresses up like a man and chases the vamp instead. This isn't a bad idea for a plot, but there are just opportunity after opportunity wasted as no comedy is generated. In fact, if I were compiling this set, I wouldn't have even considered this film as it's more like a romance...period. And, sadly, not all that great a romance either.
A poorly executed and totally unfunny sinks this one and makes it easy to understand how this old short became a "forgotten classic".
THE DANGER GIRL is definitely an example of these limp films in this installment. The biggest problem is that although the plot isn't bad, it really looks almost nothing like a comedy as there isn't much to laugh at--neither slapstick nor more sophisticated humor.
The plot involves poor old Gloria Swanson trying to get her boyfriend (Bobby Vernon) to stop paying attention to "the Danger Girl"--a rich vamp who inexplicably is pursued by ardent admirers. So, to foil Vernon's attempts to catch the danger gal's heart, Gloria dresses up like a man and chases the vamp instead. This isn't a bad idea for a plot, but there are just opportunity after opportunity wasted as no comedy is generated. In fact, if I were compiling this set, I wouldn't have even considered this film as it's more like a romance...period. And, sadly, not all that great a romance either.
A poorly executed and totally unfunny sinks this one and makes it easy to understand how this old short became a "forgotten classic".