502 - Hot Water, United States, 1924. Dir. Fred C. Newsletter and Sam Taylor.

Thursday, May 17, 2018

502 - Hot Water, United States, 1924.  Dir. Fred C. Newsletter and Sam Taylor.

New Hubby Harold is sent to the store by Wifey.  For just a few things.

So many things that he can hardly carry them all.

And just as he begins struggling to contain all the items to take home, he wins a wild turkey in a raffle.

Because everybody could use a wild turkey surprise.

He is riding the trolley home, and his fellow riders are not too happy with his turkey.

Let us just say that the Hubby and the turkey may be using am alternate route to go home.

The Hubby is motivated to buy a car.

He does.  He offers to take the Wifey for a spin.

Unfortunately, her two brothers--one older and one younger--and her mother Winnifed--Hubby's mother-in-law--have already climbed into the backseat and are waiting.

So much for a couple's getaway.

The driving sequences are vintage Harold Lloyd, with a mother-in-law's nagging to boot.

After typical Lloyd mayhem, the family ends up back at the house with the Hubby beyond his wits.

His neighbor gives him a stiff drink.

His temperance-promoting mother-in-law threatens to bust him.

So he quickly conceives of a way to distract her.

Chloroform.

He does not consider that she sleepwalks.

And what follows is clever and and funny.

This 60-minute film is due for a reappraisal.  It is not on the level of work such as Safety Last!, but it is better than it has been remembered.

Hubby Harold starts by saying he will never get in a hurry to get married.

Then he finds himself getting married.

And being married.

And in hot water.