Should Tall Men Marry?
Plot
In this silent comedy-western, rancher James Finlayson's beautiful daughter (Martha Sleeper) finds herself pursued by the villainous Theodore von Eltz, who seeks to marry her to gain control of the family ranch. When she refuses his advances, the villain resorts to desperate measures to claim both her and the property. Two bumbling cowhands, Jimmy and the dimwitted Stan, stumble into the situation and attempt to defend the young woman and her ranch through a series of comedic misadventures and slapstick mishaps. Through their incompetent but ultimately effective efforts, they manage to thwart the villain's schemes and save the day.
About the Production
This was a two-reel silent comedy short produced during the transition period from silent films to talkies. The film was part of Hal Roach's comedy series that often featured similar character types and situations. The production utilized the studio's western sets and locations that were frequently used for other western-themed shorts.
Historical Background
1928 was a pivotal year in cinema history, marking the end of the silent era and the beginning of the sound revolution. The Jazz Singer had been released in 1927, and by 1928, studios were rapidly converting to sound production. This film represents one of the last waves of pure silent comedy shorts before the industry fully embraced sound technology. The late 1920s also saw the height of popularity for short comedy films, which were often shown before feature presentations in theaters. Western themes remained extremely popular with audiences, and the combination of western and comedy elements was a proven formula for success.
Why This Film Matters
As a product of the Hal Roach comedy machine, this film represents the industrial approach to comedy production that characterized late silent era Hollywood. The studio system of the time created assembly-line entertainment with recurring character types and situations that audiences found comforting and familiar. The film's combination of western and comedy elements reflects the genre-blending that would become increasingly common in Hollywood. While not a groundbreaking work, it's representative of the type of entertainment that dominated American theaters before the transition to sound changed the industry forever.
Making Of
The film was produced at Hal Roach Studios during their peak years of comedy production. Director Clyde Bruckman was known for his meticulous planning and his ability to extract maximum comedic value from simple situations. The studio frequently reused sets and locations across multiple productions to save costs, so many of the western settings seen in this film appeared in other Roach productions. The cast was composed of studio regulars who had developed strong comedic chemistry through repeated collaborations. The filming would have followed the standard silent film production methods of the era, with exaggerated gestures and visual comedy taking precedence over dialogue.
Visual Style
The cinematography would have followed standard silent film practices of the era, with clear, well-lit compositions designed to emphasize physical comedy and visual gags. The camera work would have been relatively static compared to later films, with the focus on capturing the performers' movements and expressions effectively. Western settings provided opportunities for both interior and exterior shots, allowing for variety in visual presentation. The black and white photography would have utilized contrast to highlight the comedic elements and ensure clarity of the visual storytelling.
Innovations
The film does not appear to have featured any notable technical innovations or achievements. As a standard comedy short from the late silent era, it would have utilized conventional filmmaking techniques and equipment of the period. The focus was on entertainment value and efficient production rather than technical experimentation. The two-reel format (approximately 20 minutes) was standard for comedy shorts of this period, allowing for complete stories without the complexity of feature-length productions.
Music
As a silent film, this would have had no synchronized soundtrack. The theatrical experience would have included live musical accompaniment, typically provided by a theater organist or small orchestra. The music would have been selected to match the mood and action of the scenes, with faster tempos for chase sequences and romantic themes for scenes between the lead characters. No original score was composed specifically for this film, as was standard practice for short comedies of the era.
Memorable Scenes
- The climactic scene where the bumbling cowhands accidentally thwart the villain's plans through their incompetence, likely involving slapstick physical comedy and mistaken identity common to films of this era.
Did You Know?
- Director Clyde Bruckman was a renowned comedy director who worked with Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton, and Laurel & Hardy before becoming an alcoholic and eventually taking his own life in 1955.
- James Finlayson was a Scottish-born actor who became famous for his trademark double-take and exclamation of 'D'oh!' which later inspired Homer Simpson's catchphrase.
- The film was released just before the full transition to sound in Hollywood, making it part of the last wave of silent comedy shorts.
- Hal Roach Studios was known as 'The Lot of Fun' due to its specialization in comedy productions during this era.
- The character of 'Stan' in the plot is likely Stan Laurel, though he may not have been given top billing in this particular short.
- This film is now considered a lost film, with no known surviving copies in any film archives or private collections.
- The title plays on the comedy trope of physical differences, which was common in silent era comedies.
- Western comedies were extremely popular during the late 1920s, combining two of the most popular genres of the era.
What Critics Said
Contemporary critical reception for short comedy films was typically limited to trade publications rather than mainstream newspapers. The film would have been reviewed primarily in publications like Variety and The Motion Picture News, where reviewers would have focused on the effectiveness of the gags and the performances of the cast. As a Hal Roach production, it likely received standard positive notices for delivering the expected laughs and entertainment value. Modern critical assessment is impossible due to the film's lost status, preventing any reevaluation of its artistic merits or historical importance.
What Audiences Thought
Audience reception for comedy shorts of this era was generally positive when the films delivered the expected laughs and entertainment. Theater audiences of the late 1920s were accustomed to seeing short comedies as part of their movie-going experience, and films from Hal Roach Studios were particularly popular. The combination of familiar comedy situations with the popular western setting would have appealed to the broad audience base of the time. However, as the film is now lost, there are no detailed records of specific audience reactions or box office performance.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Other Hal Roach comedy shorts
- Laurel and Hardy comedies
- Western films of the 1920s
- Slapstick comedy traditions
You Might Also Like
Film Restoration
Lost film - no known surviving copies exist in any film archives or private collections. The film is considered lost, along with many other silent shorts from this period that were not preserved during the transition to sound.