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The Great Towel Robbery
(1913) United States of America
B&W : Short film
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: Max Asher [Max the boob], Silvion De Jardins (Bobby Vernon) [the rube], Lee Morris [the sheriff], Billie Bennett [the soubrette]
Powers Picture Plays production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated. / Released 13 August 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Comedy.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? A traveling comedy company has finished its engagement in a small country town and is leaving the hotel in an automobile for the next town. After their departure the chambermaid finds several towels missing and informs the proprietor. He telephones the sheriff of the loss, and the latter, accompanied by four deputies, starts in pursuit of the comedy company. The automobile in which the troupe is traveling gets stuck in the country road. The members of the company refuse to walk, and the manager secures the services of a nearby farmer to haul the troupe in his wagon. Arrived at the scene of the accident the company and baggage are loaded into the wagon, but the farmer is so busy watching the soubrette that he upsets the whole troupe in the road and they have to walk to the farm house. In the meantime, the sheriff, after many mishaps, catches up with the troupe. The deputies are concealed outside the barn while the sheriff goes to the house to reconnoiter. He meets the farmer, who invites him to a drink of hard cider, and in partaking of this seductive fluid, they forget all else. The troupe is being fed in the front yard of the farm, while the farmer’s son, a tough kid, is carrying on a flirtation with the soubrette, which leads to many amusing incidents and accidents. At last the sheriff remembers what he was sent for, and calling the waiting deputies, he places the troupe under arrest, while they are still at dinner. The wife of the hotel proprietor comes into the hotel office and is told of the loss of the towels. She demurely produces them from her bustle. The proprietor sends a messenger after the sheriff, and he arrives there just as the arrest is being made. Relieved from suspicion of the robbery, the troupe takes revenge on the sheriff and deputies by pelting them with food.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 16 August 1913, p. ?] An enjoyable burlesque comedy. The show troupe, suspected of having stolen four towels, are pursued by four constables and their assistants. The troupe’s wagon breaks down, one of the constables is doused in a tub, and many other nonsensical things occur. This comes under the head of enjoyable foolishness.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 29 October 2022.
References: Lahue-World p. 51 : Website-IMDb.
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