Are Crooks Dishonest?

Plot

In this classic Harold Lloyd comedy short, Harold and his partner Snub Pollard play a pair of small-time con artists who encounter Miss Goulash, a fraudulent psychic medium, and her supposed professor father. The duo attempt to expose the phony spiritualists while simultaneously trying to con them out of their money, leading to a series of comedic misunderstandings and slapstick situations. As the schemes escalate, Harold finds himself in increasingly precarious positions, including having to pretend to be a wealthy mark and participating in a fake séance. The film culminates in a chaotic chase sequence where all the characters' true identities are revealed, resulting in the con artists getting their comeuppance while Harold manages to escape with both the girl and a small fortune.

Historical Background

Released in March 1918, 'Are Crooks Dishonest?' was produced during the final year of World War I, a time when American cinema was rapidly evolving from short films to feature-length productions. The film industry was consolidating, with studios like Hal Roach establishing themselves as comedy powerhouses. This period also saw the rise of spiritualism in American culture, as the massive casualties of WWI led many people to seek contact with deceased loved ones through mediums and psychics, many of whom were later exposed as frauds. The film capitalized on this cultural phenomenon while providing escapist entertainment during a difficult period in American history.

Making Of

The filming of 'Are Crooks Dishonest?' took place at the Hal Roach Studios facility in Culver City, California. Harold Lloyd was known for his meticulous planning of gags and stunts, even in these early shorts. The séance scene required careful choreography to ensure the fake supernatural effects appeared convincing yet comedic. Bebe Daniels and Harold Lloyd had developed strong comedic chemistry from working together on numerous previous shorts, allowing them to improvise and enhance the scripted material. The production team used practical effects for the spiritualist gags, including hidden wires and trap doors, which were standard techniques for comedy productions of this era.

Visual Style

The cinematography in 'Are Crooks Dishonest?' was typical of Hal Roach Studios productions of the era, featuring clear, well-lit compositions that effectively showcased the physical comedy. The camera work was functional rather than artistic, prioritizing clarity of action and gag visibility over visual experimentation. The séance scenes utilized dramatic lighting to create mysterious atmospheres before undercutting them with comedic reveals. The film employed standard medium shots for dialogue scenes and wider shots for physical comedy sequences, following the established conventions of silent comedy cinematography.

Innovations

While 'Are Crooks Dishonest?' was not groundbreaking technically, it demonstrated the efficient production methods that made Hal Roach Studios successful. The film employed practical effects for the supernatural gags, including hidden mechanisms for levitation tricks and ghostly appearances. The editing was crisp and well-paced, essential for maintaining comedic momentum in short films. The production showcased the studio's ability to produce quality comedy shorts quickly and economically, a technical achievement in itself that helped establish Hal Roach as a major comedy producer.

Music

As a silent film, 'Are Crooks Dishonest?' would have been accompanied by live musical performance in theaters. The typical score would have included popular songs of 1918, classical pieces, and specially composed mood music. During séance scenes, theaters would likely used eerie, mysterious music to enhance the atmosphere before switching to comedic, upbeat tunes for the slapstick sequences. The musical accompaniment was crucial for setting the tone and guiding audience emotional responses, as was standard practice for silent comedy shorts of this period.

Memorable Scenes

• The fake séance scene where Harold must pretend to be convinced by Miss Goulash's supernatural abilities while simultaneously trying to expose her as a fraud, resulting in chaotic comedic confusion as hidden mechanisms malfunction and the psychic's tricks are revealed to the 'spirits' she's trying to contact.

What Critics Said

Contemporary reviews of 'Are Crooks Dishonest?' were generally positive, with trade publications like Variety and Moving Picture World praising Harold Lloyd's comedic timing and the film's clever premise. Critics noted the film's effective use of the spiritualist craze for comedic purposes and the strong chemistry between Lloyd, Daniels, and Pollard. Modern film historians recognize the short as a solid example of Lloyd's early work, demonstrating his developing comedic style and the efficient production values of Hal Roach Studios. While not considered among Lloyd's masterpieces, it is valued today as an artifact of early American comedy cinema.

What Audiences Thought

Audiences in 1918 responded positively to 'Are Crooks Dishonest?' as part of Harold Lloyd's growing popularity. The film's timely subject matter of fake psychics resonated with viewers familiar with real-life spiritualist scandals. Harold Lloyd's relatable everyman character and the film's fast-paced gags provided the escapist entertainment that wartime audiences craved. The short performed well in theaters as part of comedy programs, contributing to Lloyd's rising star power that would soon enable him to transition to feature films.

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