It's a one-reel version of the 1921 two-reel comedy HARD KNOCKS AND LOVE TAPS, with a commentary voiced by Warner Brother's expert for comedy shorts, Art Gilmore.
Somehow, Warner Brothers wound up in possession of most of Mack Sennett;s independent shorts. So they decided to get some money out of them by reducing them to the sort of chaotic-looking comedy that Sennett had produced during his Keystone heyday of 1913-1920. In truth by the time the original short was produced, Sennett's productions were much more sophisticated, both in plot construction and editing. However, by 1951, people had forgotten that. Even though Sennett had produced his last short eighteen years earlier, people thought of his work as almost prehistoric, filled only with Keystone Kops falling down in pursuit of.... well, something. So this short was produced to reflect that understanding.
Too bad it seems to be the only known footage of that short. I'd like to see the original some time.
Somehow, Warner Brothers wound up in possession of most of Mack Sennett;s independent shorts. So they decided to get some money out of them by reducing them to the sort of chaotic-looking comedy that Sennett had produced during his Keystone heyday of 1913-1920. In truth by the time the original short was produced, Sennett's productions were much more sophisticated, both in plot construction and editing. However, by 1951, people had forgotten that. Even though Sennett had produced his last short eighteen years earlier, people thought of his work as almost prehistoric, filled only with Keystone Kops falling down in pursuit of.... well, something. So this short was produced to reflect that understanding.
Too bad it seems to be the only known footage of that short. I'd like to see the original some time.
