LUKE'S MOVIE MUDDLE (1916) is one of the few surviving "Lonesome Luke" shorts of the great comedian Harold Lloyd. Many of Lloyd's films survive because of his own preservation. Unfortunately, a fire at his estate wiped out many of the Lonesome Luke comedies.
MOVIE MUDDLE begins showing Luke as the owner of a movie theater that shows Pathé (the company that produced this short) films. He does everything—sells tickets, takes tickets, shows people to their seats. His only partners are the piano player and the bumbling projectionist, played by the great Snub Pollard.
When a girl enters (Bebe Daniels), Luke's flirting gets the best of him. The film gets jammed, and via a smoking (literally) patron, the audience rushes out thinking there's a fire.
The comedy in MOVIE MUDDLE is much more refined than your average comedy short from the period, and unlike the of Mack Sennett, creates a situation and THEN mayhem, not vice versa.
I saw this short via a 16mm print that was clear, but not great. Obviously from a lesser source, but not a strain to watch.
Harold Lloyd fans will find this satisfying as a curiosity piece and an idea as to what Lonesome Luke was like (contrary to popular belief, the character was nothing like Chaplin's Tramp past his appearance). To the slapstick fans, a funny short awaits.
7/10 for good effort and satisfying results.
MOVIE MUDDLE begins showing Luke as the owner of a movie theater that shows Pathé (the company that produced this short) films. He does everything—sells tickets, takes tickets, shows people to their seats. His only partners are the piano player and the bumbling projectionist, played by the great Snub Pollard.
When a girl enters (Bebe Daniels), Luke's flirting gets the best of him. The film gets jammed, and via a smoking (literally) patron, the audience rushes out thinking there's a fire.
The comedy in MOVIE MUDDLE is much more refined than your average comedy short from the period, and unlike the of Mack Sennett, creates a situation and THEN mayhem, not vice versa.
I saw this short via a 16mm print that was clear, but not great. Obviously from a lesser source, but not a strain to watch.
Harold Lloyd fans will find this satisfying as a curiosity piece and an idea as to what Lonesome Luke was like (contrary to popular belief, the character was nothing like Chaplin's Tramp past his appearance). To the slapstick fans, a funny short awaits.
7/10 for good effort and satisfying results.