Like to many of the Hal Roach shorts, Charley Chase (using his real name, Charles Parrot) directed this picture. Chase was a huge screen comic but also directed the likes of Laurel & Hardy, Harold Lloyd, Snub Pollard and even some of the Our Gang comedies. He was an incredibly prolific artist...and it's a darn shame he died so young.
In "The Flood Below", you find Snub Pollard and Mildred Davies (the future Mrs. Harold Lloyd) married. Snub is totally henpecked and does all the cleaning while his life sits about and orders him to work. Later, when friends come to visit, she demonstrates how obedient her husband is...and her friend demonstrates the same with her poor husband! Later, however, after the men are coached, they lay down the law with their wives and put them in their place. It didn't hurt that they had a gun to encourage the wives' obedience!! Never before has spousal abuse been so fun!
I think today some folks would blanch at the whole spousal abuse aspect of the film. Back in the day, it was a sure laugh-getter! Overall, a mildly amusing film and nothing more. It is interesting, however, for an appearance of Ernest 'Sunshine Sammy' Morrison without the rest of the kids from the Our Gang comedies.
In "The Flood Below", you find Snub Pollard and Mildred Davies (the future Mrs. Harold Lloyd) married. Snub is totally henpecked and does all the cleaning while his life sits about and orders him to work. Later, when friends come to visit, she demonstrates how obedient her husband is...and her friend demonstrates the same with her poor husband! Later, however, after the men are coached, they lay down the law with their wives and put them in their place. It didn't hurt that they had a gun to encourage the wives' obedience!! Never before has spousal abuse been so fun!
I think today some folks would blanch at the whole spousal abuse aspect of the film. Back in the day, it was a sure laugh-getter! Overall, a mildly amusing film and nothing more. It is interesting, however, for an appearance of Ernest 'Sunshine Sammy' Morrison without the rest of the kids from the Our Gang comedies.
