Hands Up!
Railroad president, John Houston, along with his daughter Marjorie and his fiancee, Elinor Craig, are aboard the express train when it is held up by a gang of outlaws. Outlaw Dan Tracy, is attracted to Marjorie, who, filled with dreams of romance, returns his interest. They exchange rings and later meet secretly in the city. When Houston learns that his daughter's new suitor is an outlaw, he hires a detective to investigate. The investigation indicates that Tracy is Houston's son by a former marriage, and Houston, mortified, allows the outlaw to escape. Tracy then persuades Marjorie to elope with him and takes her to his shack in the hills where she is rudely awakened to the realities of outlaw life. Houston arrives to save his daughter, and after Tracy is killed by Rosanne, the woman he betrayed, it is revealed that Tracy was not his son but an offspring of his former wife and an outlaw. A lost film.
Insights
Plot Summary
In this silent comedy short, a bumbling sheriff and his deputy attempt to capture a notorious bandit known as 'The Panther.' Their pursuit is filled with slapstick hijinks and chaotic encounters as they try to outwit their quarry and navigate the wild west. The film culminates in a series of escalating gags and misunderstandings.
Critical Reception
As a product of Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios, 'Hands Up!' was typical of the fast-paced, anarchic slapstick comedies of the era. While specific contemporary critical reviews are scarce, films from this period are generally remembered for their physical comedy and broad humor, often prioritizing laughs over narrative depth. Its reception would have been in line with the popular appeal of Sennett's brand of comedy.
What Reviewers Say
- Relies heavily on physical gags and chase sequences typical of early silent comedy.
- Features the signature anarchic and fast-paced style associated with Mack Sennett.
- A lighthearted and comedic take on a Western-style chase scenario.
Google audience: Information regarding specific audience reviews for this 1917 short film is not readily available.
Fun Fact
Mack Sennett was known as the 'King of Comedy' and his Keystone Studios pioneered many slapstick techniques that would influence film comedy for decades.
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