In 1914, Charlie Chaplin began his film career and was almost instantly a big star with Keystone Pictures. So, it's not at all surprising that the studio would also try out Charlie's half-brother, Syd, as he, too, had a long career on stage as a comic. Of the almost three dozen films he made, many were as the character 'Reggie Gussle'...the term 'gussle', which means an idiot. This character wasn't much like Charlie's Little Tramp, though his outfits and getup were also pretty outrageous. Gussle had a funny upside-down mustache, an ill-fitting jacket, a dopey hat and slicked back hair...and looked a lot like Harold Lloyd's later character, Lonesome Luke. But Gussle never really caught on with theater audiences and Syd later tried other film roles after making about ten of these films.
When the story begins, Gussle is out with his wife, a woman who seems very adept at manhandling him when he stops out of line...which is often. After a while, however, Reggie is struck by a car and Mrs. Gussle faints. While none of this sounds all that funny, the fainting and Reggie's reaction to the car are pretty funny...for 1915. After all, comedy was NOT subtle back then and slapstick was the norm. And, while Reggie turns out to be okay, his wife sure ends up taking a beating.
After this, the couple continue their day out, enjoying a few minutes at the zoo (before Mrs. Gussle slaps him silly for no apparent reason). In fact throughout the film, Mrs. Gussle beats the snot out of him. However, as the film progresses, you can see why (such as making passes at women, locking her in a cage with a leopard and blowing smoke in her face) and often she just slaps him around because back in the slapstick era, this alone passed for great comedy. While by today's standards, this is pretty crude and unfunny, for a Gussle film it's actually better than most. There are a few laughs...and lots of meaningless violence. A very good look at what slapstick was in films, though the oft-used mindlessly shooting a gun isn't used in this short.
By the way, Gussle's rival in this one is played by a young Slim Summerville, who had a significant career in talking pictures as well as in silents.
When the story begins, Gussle is out with his wife, a woman who seems very adept at manhandling him when he stops out of line...which is often. After a while, however, Reggie is struck by a car and Mrs. Gussle faints. While none of this sounds all that funny, the fainting and Reggie's reaction to the car are pretty funny...for 1915. After all, comedy was NOT subtle back then and slapstick was the norm. And, while Reggie turns out to be okay, his wife sure ends up taking a beating.
After this, the couple continue their day out, enjoying a few minutes at the zoo (before Mrs. Gussle slaps him silly for no apparent reason). In fact throughout the film, Mrs. Gussle beats the snot out of him. However, as the film progresses, you can see why (such as making passes at women, locking her in a cage with a leopard and blowing smoke in her face) and often she just slaps him around because back in the slapstick era, this alone passed for great comedy. While by today's standards, this is pretty crude and unfunny, for a Gussle film it's actually better than most. There are a few laughs...and lots of meaningless violence. A very good look at what slapstick was in films, though the oft-used mindlessly shooting a gun isn't used in this short.
By the way, Gussle's rival in this one is played by a young Slim Summerville, who had a significant career in talking pictures as well as in silents.