"The Villain Still Pursued Her" is a clever idea. It's a parody of the very old fashioned morality plays that were popular in traveling shows and early silent movies. It all is an attempt to indoctrinate the viewer about the evils of liquor and the characters are very one-dimensional--much like the characters from "Dudley Do-right". It has all the clichés--the evil guy in a top hat who is dressed in black (Alan Mowbray), the sweet fair-haired damsel (Anita Louise) and the good man who is turned bad--all thanks to demon liquor (Richard Cromwell). Along for the ride are Billy Gilbert, Margaret Hamilton and Buster Keaton. As for Keaton, there really is no reason for him to be in this film and he's 99% wasted.
This is a cute idea. BUT, and this is important, it could have worked well as a 10-20 minute short. But after a while, it all becomes VERY tedious because it's a one idea comedy--and the idea just isn't that good and the material is stretched VERY thin. The deliberately broad acting is cute at first--and horribly annoying as the film progresses. Not worth your time. I kept expected a payoff to make it all worthwhile...and it never came. Tedious.
This is a cute idea. BUT, and this is important, it could have worked well as a 10-20 minute short. But after a while, it all becomes VERY tedious because it's a one idea comedy--and the idea just isn't that good and the material is stretched VERY thin. The deliberately broad acting is cute at first--and horribly annoying as the film progresses. Not worth your time. I kept expected a payoff to make it all worthwhile...and it never came. Tedious.