A misogynist Fire chief counsels his nephew to avoid matrimony at all costs. Uhe love-struck Harry is determined to marry his sweetheart Ethel.A misogynist Fire chief counsels his nephew to avoid matrimony at all costs. Uhe love-struck Harry is determined to marry his sweetheart Ethel.A misogynist Fire chief counsels his nephew to avoid matrimony at all costs. Uhe love-struck Harry is determined to marry his sweetheart Ethel.
Irving Bacon
- Man Who Jumps Out of Window
- (uncredited)
Margaret Cloud
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
Evelyn Francisco
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
Christian J. Frank
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
Thelma Hill
- Girl Who Jumps Into the Hoop Net
- (uncredited)
Elsie Tarron
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis film was completed in July 1925, but not copyrighted until February 1926, and released in May 1927; along the way, it was edited from 5 reels down to 3 reels.
- Quotes
Harry Howells: There seems to be a lot of fighting around here.
Mrs. Benedict: No more than's necessary.
Featured review
The comedy picks up as this moves along, leading to a strong finish.
The man's name doesn't necessarily carry as much weight in retrospect as contemporaries like Harold Lloyd, Charlie Chaplin, or Buster Keaton, but there's still no mistaking that Harry Langdon was an early comedic icon of cinema. Of those films of his I've seen to date I think they are a tad inconsistent in strict terms of quality, but still it's hard to go wrong with his works. As this one begins it surely comes across as falling on the softer side of the star's oeuvre as it is more gently amusing than anything else, and in addition to the story about a misogynist uncle pressuring his lovestruck nephew there are further touches of contemporary values that seem all but alien almost one hundred years later. All the same 'His first flame' holds up pretty well after so much time, and it's mildly enjoyable if one has the chance to watch.
While the strength of the humor varies, some instances do ably elicit some laughs; over these forty-six minutes we're fed a fairly steady stream of gags and situational comedy, with some physical comedy on top. I think it does notably pick up more as the abbreviated length advances, for there's more fun to be had as light plot mostly becomes a mere excuse for the silliness. Given the most prominence Langdon naturally stands out as the protagonist, a hapless figure much like Charlie Chaplin's tramp - but his co-stars are just as terrific in embracing the zestful spirit of the proceedings, and between their acting and Harry Edwards' direction this boasts swell energy to keep things moving and viewers engaged. Edwards shows a keen eye for orchestrating shots and scenes generally, and the cinematography strikes me as being extra smart at no few points.
All along the way this is splendidly well made at large. The stunts and effects are pretty fantastic, lending to a minor sense of spectacle at times. From sets and costume design to hair and makeup everything looks great. I think the script is rather thin in terms of any would-be storytelling, yet it's obvious that 'His first flame' is intended only to provide a smidgen of mirth, and as that focus is foremost the goal is certainly achieved - and distinctly more so in the back end than in early scenes where exposition holds sway. One way or another this is hardly a major must-see, and it doesn't have the same staying power as many of its kin. Nonetheless the end result is funny and entertaining overall, and can even claim some small sparks of ingenuity in some of the bits. I'd even go so far as to say that the last minutes make up for the slower start, which quite speaks well to all involved. It's nothing one needs to go out of their way to see, but if you do come across this 1927 comedy it's a really good time, and worth a look even after all these decades.
While the strength of the humor varies, some instances do ably elicit some laughs; over these forty-six minutes we're fed a fairly steady stream of gags and situational comedy, with some physical comedy on top. I think it does notably pick up more as the abbreviated length advances, for there's more fun to be had as light plot mostly becomes a mere excuse for the silliness. Given the most prominence Langdon naturally stands out as the protagonist, a hapless figure much like Charlie Chaplin's tramp - but his co-stars are just as terrific in embracing the zestful spirit of the proceedings, and between their acting and Harry Edwards' direction this boasts swell energy to keep things moving and viewers engaged. Edwards shows a keen eye for orchestrating shots and scenes generally, and the cinematography strikes me as being extra smart at no few points.
All along the way this is splendidly well made at large. The stunts and effects are pretty fantastic, lending to a minor sense of spectacle at times. From sets and costume design to hair and makeup everything looks great. I think the script is rather thin in terms of any would-be storytelling, yet it's obvious that 'His first flame' is intended only to provide a smidgen of mirth, and as that focus is foremost the goal is certainly achieved - and distinctly more so in the back end than in early scenes where exposition holds sway. One way or another this is hardly a major must-see, and it doesn't have the same staying power as many of its kin. Nonetheless the end result is funny and entertaining overall, and can even claim some small sparks of ingenuity in some of the bits. I'd even go so far as to say that the last minutes make up for the slower start, which quite speaks well to all involved. It's nothing one needs to go out of their way to see, but if you do come across this 1927 comedy it's a really good time, and worth a look even after all these decades.
helpful•00
- I_Ailurophile
- Nov 22, 2023
Details
- Runtime48 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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