O.H.M.S.

A short silent comedy where a man attempts to impress a young woman by posing as an important government official. He uses the official-looking stationery of the "Office of His Majesty's Stationery Office" (O.H.M.S.) to create a false impression of his status. His charade, however, quickly unravels when his true, less impressive circumstances are revealed.

As a very early silent short, 'O.H.M.S.' was part of a wave of lighthearted comedic shorts popular in its era. Contemporary reviews would have focused on its simple humor and the performance of its lead actors. Its reception is difficult to gauge by modern standards but it was a typical offering from the burgeoning film industry.

• Praised for its straightforward and amusing premise.

• Enjoyed for the comedic performance of Sidney Drew.

• Seen as a typical example of early 20th-century short film comedy.

Google audience: Audience reviews are not available for this very early silent film.

The acronym O.H.M.S. (On His Majesty's Service) is still used today on mail in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms to indicate official government correspondence.