The Best Man

About the production

This was one of many comedy shorts produced during the transition from silent to sound films. The film was likely shot quickly on a modest budget, typical of comedy shorts of the era. The tar gags required careful timing and coordination to create the escalating comedy without endangering the actors.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Made in 1928, in United States, under Harry Edwards, The Best Man belongs to silent filmmaking amid the silent era's rapid stylistic experiments.

Why this film matters

Within silent history, Harry Edwards's name attaches to the work; surviving prints help researchers study silent-era craft; 1928 American film.

Making of

The Best Man was produced during a tumultuous period in Hollywood history when studios were rapidly transitioning from silent to sound films. Director Harry Edwards, a veteran of silent comedy, had to work quickly and efficiently to maintain the pace of short film production. The tar sequences required careful choreography and timing, with Billy Bevan having to perform numerous takes to get the physical comedy just right. The sticky tar prop was likely a mixture of molasses and other safe ingredients that could be easily cleaned between takes. The film was shot on a tight schedule typical of comedy shorts of the era, often completing production in just a few days. The church set was probably a studio construction, allowing for multiple camera angles and quick reset between scenes.

What critics said

Contemporary reviews of The Best Man are sparse in open sources; later catalog entries chiefly summarize plot and credits.

Did you know?

• This was one of the final silent comedies before the full transition to sound films in Hollywood
• Billy Bevan was one of Mack Sennett's most reliable comedy stars, known for his expressive face and physical comedy skills
• Vernon Dent, who plays a supporting role, would later become famous for his work with The Three Stooges in their comedy shorts
• Director Harry Edwards was a prolific comedy short director, helming over 200 films during his career
• The tar gags were a classic silent comedy trope, using sticky substances to create visual humor and physical predicaments
• Alma Bennett was a popular actress of the 1920s who appeared in over 60 films before retiring from acting
• The film was released just months before The Jazz Singer revolutionized cinema with synchronized dialogue
• Mack Sennett, whose studio produced this film, was known as 'The King of Comedy' for pioneering slapstick comedy in early cinema

Visual style

The cinematography in The Best Man would have been straightforward and functional, typical of comedy shorts of the era. The camera work would have emphasized clear visibility of the physical gags, particularly the tar-related mishaps. Static shots would have been used for most scenes, with the camera positioned to capture the full range of movement required for the slapstick comedy. The lighting would have been bright and even, ensuring that the sticky tar and its effects were clearly visible to the audience.

Music

As a silent film, The Best Man would have been accompanied by live musical performance in theaters. The score would typically have been provided by a theater organist or small ensemble, using standard musical cues for comedy, romance, and mishap situations. The music would have been synchronized to the action on screen, with lively, upbeat music during the comedic sequences and more romantic themes during the wedding ceremony scenes.

Memorable scenes

• The best man's arrival covered in tar, causing chaos in the church
• The ring exchange scene where the tar causes the ring to stick and be lost
• The reception scene where the tar continues to cause problems with food and guests
• The honeymoon send-off where the best man's tar-covered presence creates final embarrassment

What audiences thought

Audiences in 1928 would have enjoyed The Best Man as light entertainment before or between feature presentations. The visual humor and physical comedy were universally understood and didn't require the sophistication of more artistic silent films. Wedding-themed comedies were popular with audiences of the era, as they presented relatable situations exaggerated for comic effect. The film's reception would have been positive but not remarkable, typical of the hundreds of comedy shorts produced during this period.

Film connections

Influenced by

• Mack Sennett comedies
• Charlie Chaplin shorts
• Buster Keaton films
• Harold Lloyd comedies

This film influenced

• Three Stooges shorts
• Abbott and Costello films
• Wedding comedy films

Film restoration

The preservation status of The Best Man (1928) is uncertain. Many silent shorts from this era have been lost due to the unstable nature of nitrate film and lack of preservation efforts in early Hollywood. Some Mack Sennett comedies have survived in archives or private collections, but specific information about this title's survival is not readily available.

Where to watch

• Due to its status as an obscure silent short, The Best Man (1928) is not currently available on major streaming platforms. It may exist in film archives such as the Library of Congress, UCLA Film & Television Archive, or the Museum of Modern Art's film collection. Some rare film dealers or collectors might have copies, but general public access is limited.