An Expensive Visit

Plot

In this 1915 silent comedy, Jack is a carefree college student who has been squandering his wealthy father's money on parties and frivolities instead of focusing on his studies. When Jack receives word that his father is planning an unexpected visit to campus, panic sets in as he tries to hide his irresponsible lifestyle. In a desperate scheme, Jack convinces his friend to disguise himself as a woman and flirt with his father, creating a compromising situation. Simultaneously, another friend poses as the jealous husband of the disguised woman, threatening to expose the father unless he pays handsomely to keep the incident quiet. The comedic chaos escalates as Jack's elaborate ruse threatens to unravel completely.

Historical Background

1915 was a pivotal year in cinema history, occurring during the transition from short films to feature-length productions. The film industry was still consolidating, with production scattered across various American cities before Hollywood's dominance was established. World War I was raging in Europe, affecting global film markets and production, though the United States would not enter the war until 1917. This period saw the rise of the star system in American cinema, with actors like Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford becoming household names. Comedy shorts were extremely popular, serving as the primary entertainment for working-class audiences in nickelodeons and small theaters. The film industry was also dealing with new censorship pressures following the 1915 Supreme Court decision in Mutual Film Corp. v. Industrial Commission of Ohio, which declared films were not protected by the First Amendment.

Making Of

The production of 'An Expensive Visit' took place during the height of Jacksonville's brief tenure as a film production hub. Director Will Louis was known for his efficiency in producing comedy shorts, often completing films in just a few days. The cross-dressing scene, central to the plot's comedy, would have required careful staging for a 1915 audience, with the actor in drag needing to maintain the illusion while performing physical comedy. Oliver Hardy, though not the star, was already developing the screen persona that would later make him famous - a larger man with a distinctive mustache who often played the straight man or comic foil. The film's modest budget meant that sets were minimal and the college setting was likely suggested through a few props and costumes rather than actual location filming at an educational institution.

Visual Style

As a typical 1915 comedy short, 'An Expensive Visit' would have been filmed in black and white on 35mm film using hand-cranked cameras of the era. The cinematography would have been functional rather than artistic, with static camera positions and medium shots predominating. Lighting would have been natural or basic artificial illumination, as sophisticated lighting techniques were not yet common in comedy shorts. The film would have featured intertitles to convey dialogue and plot points, as was standard for silent films. Camera movement would have been minimal, with any tracking shots accomplished by mounting the camera on a moving platform or vehicle. The visual style would have been straightforward, prioritizing clarity of action and recognition of comedic situations over artistic experimentation.

Innovations

As a standard comedy short of 1915, 'An Expensive Visit' did not feature notable technical innovations. The film would have been produced using established techniques of the period, including single-camera setups and basic editing practices. The cross-dressing makeup and costuming, while not technically advanced, would have required skill to create a believable illusion for the comedy to work effectively. The film's short runtime and simple plot meant that complex technical effects were unnecessary. Like most films of this era, it would have been shot on flammable nitrate film stock, which unfortunately contributed to the loss of many early films through decomposition or fire.

Music

As a silent film, 'An Expensive Visit' would have had no synchronized soundtrack. Musical accompaniment would have been provided live in theaters, ranging from a single piano in smaller venues to small orchestras in larger cinemas. The music would have been selected by the theater's musical director or pianist, often using compiled cue books that suggested appropriate music for different emotional tones and action types. Comedic moments would typically be accompanied by upbeat, playful music, while tense situations might use more dramatic or mysterious themes. The quality and style of musical accompaniment varied significantly from theater to theater, meaning each audience's experience of the film would have been unique based on the live performance.

Memorable Scenes

• The scene where Jack's friend first appears in women's clothing to flirt with the father, creating the central comedic premise of the film through the elaborate disguise and the father's unsuspecting reaction.

What Critics Said

Contemporary reviews of 'An Expensive Visit' are scarce, as was common for short comedies of this period which received little critical attention. Trade publications like The Moving Picture World likely provided brief mentions noting the film's release and basic plot, but detailed critical analysis was reserved for feature films. The film would have been judged primarily on its entertainment value and ability to elicit laughs from theater audiences. Modern critical assessment is impossible as the film is believed to be lost, like approximately 90% of American silent films. If it survived, film historians would likely analyze it for its representation of early comedy techniques, Oliver Hardy's early work, and its reflection of 1915 cultural attitudes.

What Audiences Thought

Audience reception for 'An Expensive Visit' would have been measured by the laughter and applause it generated in theaters rather than through formal reviews. Comedy shorts of this era were designed to provide quick entertainment between feature presentations or as part of mixed bills. The film's premise involving deception, cross-dressing, and the comeuppance of a wealthy character would have appealed to working-class audiences of the period. The presence of familiar comedy tropes and recognizable actors like Oliver Hardy would have helped ensure audience satisfaction. Theater owners' decisions to book the film for subsequent weeks would have been the primary indicator of its success with audiences.

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