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IMDbPro

Should Second Husbands Come First?

  • 19271927
  • 20m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
34
YOUR RATING
Max Davidson and Lillian Elliott in Should Second Husbands Come First? (1927)
ShortComedy
When a widow plans to remarry, her two sons take a look at their prospective stepfather and put on an elaborate act pretending to be crazy so as to dissuade him from further courting their m... Read allWhen a widow plans to remarry, her two sons take a look at their prospective stepfather and put on an elaborate act pretending to be crazy so as to dissuade him from further courting their mother.When a widow plans to remarry, her two sons take a look at their prospective stepfather and put on an elaborate act pretending to be crazy so as to dissuade him from further courting their mother.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
34
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Leo McCarey
  • Writers
    • Leo McCarey
    • Hal Roach
  • Stars
    • Max Davidson
    • Lillian Elliott
    • Spec O'Donnell
  • Director
    • Leo McCarey
  • Writers
    • Leo McCarey
    • Hal Roach
  • Stars
    • Max Davidson
    • Lillian Elliott
    • Spec O'Donnell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

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    Top cast

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    Max Davidson
    Max Davidson
    • Mr. Ethan Wattles
    Lillian Elliott
    • The Widow
    Spec O'Donnell
    Spec O'Donnell
    • The Widow's Younger Son
    David Butler
    David Butler
    • The Widow's Older Son
    Alice Belcher
    Alice Belcher
    • Wedding Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Sidney Franklin
    Sidney Franklin
    • Undetermined Secondary Role
    • (uncredited)
    Edgar Sherrod
    Edgar Sherrod
    • Bogus Wedding Minister
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Leo McCarey
    • Writers
      • Leo McCarey
      • Hal Roach
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

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    User reviews2

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    An example of how to scare off a prospective step-father.
    This is one of the funniest silent shorts I have ever seen. Mr. Wattles (Max Davidson) is courting a Jewish dowager played by Lillian Elliot, and matrimony looms on the horizon. The lady's two sons have a strong disinclination to acquire a new step-father, so they decided to scare him off. In the funniest sequence, Mr. Wattles is left seated in the parlor while his inamorata prepares some refreshments. The sons perform a series of visual gags in the open doorway that is totally bizarre, funny and original. At the wedding, the sons crash the ceremony disguised as an outraged father and his dishonored daughter whom Mr. Wattles got with child and abandoned. Unfortunately for the schemers, the only baby they could borrow for the ensemble happened to be the wrong color. They put make-up on the child's face and hands, but when the diaper slips down exposing the child's undoctored posterior the jig is up. If you are into being politically correct and are offended by ethnic humor, you won't like this comedy classic (or any other Max Davidson shorts for that matter). If you have an open mind and love visual comedy, this is the silent short for you.
    helpful•5
    2
    • Silents Fan
    • Jun 11, 2004

    Details

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    • Release date
      • October 23, 1927 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Neue Vater
    • Production company
      • Hal Roach Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      20 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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    Max Davidson and Lillian Elliott in Should Second Husbands Come First? (1927)
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