Movie spotlight
Burglar by Proxy
A terrible toothache causes Jack Robin to stop his automobile in front of the home of Dorothy Mason. Noticing a flat tire, Jack attaches his automatic pump and forgets about it as he listens enthralled to Dorothy's singing. When the sound of the burst tire brings Dorothy running out, Jack feigns injury so he can be nursed by her. After he leaves the house, and Dorothy's father discovers some important invention plans missing, Harlan Graves, Dorothy's suitor, suggests that Jack stole them. Jack, suspecting Graves, breaks into Graves' home to clear himself and meets a real burglar, "Spider" Kelly, who adopts Jack as his guide. They blow up a safe at a house party where Jack suspects the plans to be hidden. The papers are found, Graves is arrested and Spider, disappointed that Jack made such a mess in blowing the safe, goes off, leaving Dorothy and Jack happily alone.
Insights
Plot Summary
In this silent comedy short, a naive young woman finds herself inadvertently entangled in a series of comical mishaps involving a supposed burglar. Her attempts to navigate the situation often lead to more confusion and humorous consequences.
Critical Reception
As a silent comedy short from the early days of cinema, 'Burglar by Proxy' is primarily of historical interest. Contemporary reviews, if available, likely focused on its comedic timing and the performances of its cast within the popular slapstick and situational comedy genres of the era. Its enduring legacy lies in its place within the broader context of silent film history.
What Reviewers Say
A lighthearted and amusing silent comedy.
Features engaging performances typical of early 20th-century screen comedies.
Offers a glimpse into the comedic trends of its time.
Google audience: Information regarding Google user reviews for this 1919 short film is not available.
Fun Fact
The film is notable for its short runtime and for being part of the prolific output of silent comedies during the late 1910s and early 1920s.
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