Some films don't necessarily improve with age.

Back in the silent days, Alice Howell was a star--though today she and her comedies are mostly forgotten. There aren't a lot of them available any more--so it's hard to say how representative "Under a Spell" is of her work. As for my opinion, I thought it was pretty lame.

Alice thinks that her husband has been cheating on her when she sees a lady bandit breaking in their home. He is innocent--and the lady is a guy in disguise. But Alice doesn't know that and hires a wacky hypnotist to get him to tell the truth about his affairs. Unfortunately, by mistake one of them now is convinced he's a gorilla--and the results seem a bit lame. And, curiously, the real gorilla in this film is an orangutan. Did people back in 1925 not know the difference? The humor is VERY broad and if you can look past this, it might be worth seeing. I just thought it wasn't very funny. You know it's a bit of a letdown when the funniest thing is Howell's trademark hair.

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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When Neely is hypnotized to think he's a monkey, he goes on a freewheeling chase where he climbs things he wouldn't ordinarily and throws lots of things.

Neely Edwards, Alice Howell, and Bert Roach in Under a Spell (1925)

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Under a Spell

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