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Credited cast: | |||
George Reehm | ... | Bill Bruce | |
Frances Ne Moyer | ... | Bess | |
Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
Spottiswoode Aitken | ... | Headwaiter | |
Bobby Burns | ... | Cashier | |
Walter Stull | ... | Waiter |
Bill Brace is an imitation of "a man about town." He starts a flirtation with Bess Bradley, a stenographer, who has little use for a "make believe." He, however, invites her to dinner. Bess tells the head clerk, who outlines a scheme. The invitation is accepted and Bess and Bill are seated at a table in a rather pretentious café. Presently two other girls "blow in" and Bess greets them cordially. Of course, it is up to Bruce to ask them to sit down, which they do and commence to study the bill of fare. In a few minutes two more "drift in" and the other girls are delighted; the newcomers are invited by Bess to join the party. Before the orders are given three more turn up, and Bill finds that he has eight girls to feed. The dinner is most enjoyable until Bruce calls for the bill, which is much higher than his money roll will stand. He excuses himself for a few minutes and interviews the cashier, who will hear of no compromise except the money. Bill has to strip himself of his watch and... Written by Moving Picture World synopsis
George Reehm stiffs his landlady so he can pester Frances Ne Moyer into a date at a fancy restaurant. When all her friends from work show up, George finds himself short of cash.
Mr. Reehm, who resembles Franklin Pangborn, is very good in his comic discomfiture, but there is no comic snap to this short Lubin comedy. Every punchline is foreshadowed so fully that there is no surprise to any of the situations, nor, except for Mr. Reehm's reaction, much effect. This was pretty much the style to comedy before the rise of slapstick, with its outsized reactions. Neither does Mr. Reehm show any particular adeptness in his stage business. He is simply transported from being the aggressive masher to the victim of his own folly; it's a good outline for comedy without much in the way of execution.
If you wish to look at this comedy for yourself, a good copy can be seen on the Eye Institute site on Youtube.