This is a fun little 2-reeler that starts off a bit like a popeye cartoon. Skinny wimp Jimmie Adam's, who I always found quite likeable, shows up at his girl's parents' house at the beginning. A Brawny competitor for her affections arrives before he can get to the door though. Her dad says whoever can get the $3000 to buy the house next door, will win her. She obviously wants that to be Jimmie, but the big fellow grabs her and throws her in his car to go off to the races to gamble to raise the funds. Jimmie was a pretty good physical comedian, and he has some nice little sight gags in this one. His horse is just as good as he is though, and the horse helps him earn the cash he needs.
I believe this dvd was from a 16mm print, but it was a nice quality print and transfer. Interestingly, the print had no intertitles, but the whole film is completely understandable without them. The score is fast paced and keeps up with the action quite nicely.
This is an extremely rare film, but it is available on a dvd put out by Rare Silent Films out of Slayton, OR. They have made many hard-to-see films available on dvd, and the sales go toward saving more that could be lost to us forever. -BD
