Today, practically no one has heard of nor would remember Larry Semon. However, in the silent era, he was a very popular comic and made a lot of films...most of which were highly acrobatic. Because he's so obscure, I was surprised to find this comedy posted on YouTube...and it certainly is worth your time.
When the movie starts, a man is being harassed by a criminal gang...so he gets the cops to help. Well, these are apparently the world's worst cops....as they are scared and run away when the criminals arrive!! In desperation, a private detective (Semon) takes on this gang of thugs. What follows is a typically athletic and acrobatic outing by Semon that not only involves the gang but a woman who is trying to hide a man in her apartment.
The film has the word 'reconstructed' on the title. It is NOT a reconstruction like the recently reconstructed "Hats Off" (Laurel & Hardy) or "London After Midnight" (Lon Chaney)--two holy grails of missing films that were reconstructed awkwardly using stills and tiny fragments of film. I'd hardly consider wasting my time with them. Instead, this reconstruction means that separate existing prints were pieced together to make the most coherent and watchable film possible...and you can tell a few times when the various prints are inserted. But the film appears to be otherwise complete and watchable.
So is this worth seeing? Yes, the film has some funny moments and lots of nutty energy like the best of Semon's films. Plus, you can see Oliver Hardy in the picture as a janitor....a definite plus. Well worth your time.
When the movie starts, a man is being harassed by a criminal gang...so he gets the cops to help. Well, these are apparently the world's worst cops....as they are scared and run away when the criminals arrive!! In desperation, a private detective (Semon) takes on this gang of thugs. What follows is a typically athletic and acrobatic outing by Semon that not only involves the gang but a woman who is trying to hide a man in her apartment.
The film has the word 'reconstructed' on the title. It is NOT a reconstruction like the recently reconstructed "Hats Off" (Laurel & Hardy) or "London After Midnight" (Lon Chaney)--two holy grails of missing films that were reconstructed awkwardly using stills and tiny fragments of film. I'd hardly consider wasting my time with them. Instead, this reconstruction means that separate existing prints were pieced together to make the most coherent and watchable film possible...and you can tell a few times when the various prints are inserted. But the film appears to be otherwise complete and watchable.
So is this worth seeing? Yes, the film has some funny moments and lots of nutty energy like the best of Semon's films. Plus, you can see Oliver Hardy in the picture as a janitor....a definite plus. Well worth your time.
