In this short but scene-rich and action-packed film, King Baggot plays a weakling who is madly in love with a woman, played by Violet Horner. However, his rival for the lady's affections (William Robert Daly) is quite fit and confident, and, unlike the weakling, who is unable to budge the piano when asked to move it so the young lady can play, is able to move it with ease.
Shamed by his lack of strength, the hero goes home, smoking and in despair. He sees an advertisement in the paper for a strength gymnasium with guaranteed results. After trying to build himself up on his own, without success, and to the great displeasure of his lady neighbor, who is disturbed by his efforts at physical culture, he takes himself off to see the Professor at the gym, and, after a course of instruction that culminates with Baggot's character knocking out the professor with a mighty blow, he gains newfound strength.
Newly strong, he returns to his beloved, pushes his rival aside (several times, quite amusingly) and demonstrates his prowess as he lifts one end of the piano off the floor with one hand. He then tells the woman they are to be wed, and she protests vigorously. Paying no mind, he shoves a ring onto her finger, and carries her off in his arms to the preacher to be married.
An amusing sequence ensues where Baggot, carrying his beloved in his arms, dumps Horner on the ground several times: first, to put on his hat, then, to confront a policeman, breaking his nightstick and appropriating his gun, then tossing it after him as the policeman runs away, again, while opening the door and finally, dumping Miss Horner unceremoniously onto a chair, as he presents the preacher with the marriage license.
As the preacher begins to marry the couple (the heroine does not look too pleased), the policeman, running away from the fierce brute who has disarmed him, runs into William Robert Daly's character and the heroine's father, running in the opposite direction to her rescue. They force the frightened policeman to turn around and engage in pursuit of the "Cave Man" who has abducted the young woman.
Violet Horner's character, after being wed, is furious and unhappy, but Baggot the Cave Man places her on his lap and gives her a kiss. She decides she likes it, and kisses him back. As the "rescue party" arrives, the newlyweds are in each other's arms and quite affectionate. The film concludes with Violet Horner's character forcefully tossing the policeman, the rival, and the father out the door, and returning to canoodle once more with her "Cave Man" beloved.
The quality of this film, overall, is quite good for its age. You can clearly see the character's faces, which look very fresh and natural and aren't slathered with the "too white" make up that is sometimes a characteristic of silent films. King Baggot's once-famous shock of white hair is plainly visible in this film, and he acquits himself quite well in the "physical comedy" department. Violet Horner delivers a strong performance as the young lady being carried off to be wed, and William Robert Daly is smoothly professional as the rival.
An especially amusing aspect of the film is the gymnasium sequences. The "gym rats" who cheer on the boxing matches, though uncredited extras in the film, and only on camera briefly, are a delight to observe. The gentleman playing Professor S. Trong (erroneously identified as William Robert Daly in many references to this film, but it plainly is NOT him, but another actor altogether--taller, burlier, and balding) does a good job as a tough, no nonsense boxing coach.
The Filmmuseum copy of this film is available on DVD in PAL format, without a soundtrack, for a fee. The quality is quite good, particularly considering the age of the film, and the film is fairly complete. There are Dutch intertitles included in this copy of the film, though no main titles or cast/credit listings.
0 out of 0 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
