This film was shown last night at the BFI Southbank as part of the BFIs 75th anniversary of the founding of the NFTVA.It was originally thought lost but has been found in a vault belonging to the Rank organisation.It is a farce which was much in vogue at the time it was made.The main proponents being the Aldwych farceurs.Many of them were set in large houses for a number of practical reasons.For one it meant that they only had to worry about one main set particularly since placement of microphones was often a problem.In fact the poor recording is in evidence many times.If anyone shuts a door,falls down or comes downstairs too heavily it sounds as if someone has just caused an explosion.The actors tend to be photographed in large groups with little cutting again due to the fact that it was difficult to edit film in those early days of sound.The fact that this is an early talkie is also highlighted by the fact that the word "Synchronised" appears on the BBFC certificate(not the title card).Also at the end of the film the legend states that this is a "Gaumont Talking Picture".with the disappearance of silent films both of these descriptors of the type of film soon disappeared.This film has a limited amount of entertainment value but its historical interest far outweighs this in any event.That is not to say that it does not have its funny moments.The police arrive and arrest the vicar as a potential burglar.His wife says to the policeman"My husband is a pillar of the community",to which the policeman replies "Yes and tomorrow he will be a column in the News Of The World"(to anyone outside the UK this is a Sunday paper devoted to scandal).I enjoyed it and so did most of the audience.
