"Ask Father" is an American 13-minute live action short film from 1919, so this one will have its 100th anniversary two years from now. At this age, it is of course a black-and-white silent film. And one that actually includes more than just a few names like director Hal Roach, lead actor Harold Lloyd (one of the silent film greats) as well as fairly well-known actors Bebe Daniels and Snub Pollard. This is one of Lloyd's more known silent film works, especially looking at the short film genre. Here he has the difficult task of even getting to see a girl's father in order to get his permission to marry her. Unluckily for him, there are many other suitors, but luckily for him they are facing the same struggles and get kicked out by the dad quickly as no man seems to be good enough for his daughter. And that certainly includes Lloyd's character too. Sadly all in all I was not well-entertained here. The humour is more chaotic than funny and the drag approach was not really that funny back then and it stayed that way for many many decades. Still, an interesting depiction here. I like Lloyd, but overall, I still have to give his work here a thumbs-down. Not recommended.
Review of Ask Father
