Name: The Plumber
Genre: Comedy, Short
Rating: 3.8
Cast: Billy Franey

Bill Franey as fish market delivery man who dabbles in plumbing...badly!

Checking the IMDb credits, I see that Billy Franey did a number of shorts in 1920-21 with titles such as THE DOG CATCHER, THE CAMERAMAN, THE BULLFIGHTER, THE THIEF, etc. THE PLUMBER was undoubtedly part of the same series. If you are not familiar with Billy Franey, he reminds me somewhat of Ben Turpin minus the cross eyes, and projecting forward about fifty years, John Ratzenberger of CHEERS fame. He appeared in nearly 150 films in the 1914-1918 period, and he can be seen in small roles in many poverty row films of the 1930's. In this short, THE PLUMBER, he is a fish delivery man who is taking an order to a couple who are also having plumbing problems. On the way he is stopped by a man trying to show him a scrap of paper with Chinese writing on it... a detail that is revived again near the end of the film in a self-reflexive scene! As he is fixing the couple's plumbing, there is an odd surreal scene where a guy next door (Bill Franey has broken through the wall) is taking a bath, Franey spills hair tonic all over him (after taking a swig of the tonic himself), and then the man picks up his bathtub, pulls it up around him, and walks out the front door! There is a slapdash quality to this film that I like. Fans of low-budget indie silent comedy shorts should like this. Running time is 9:57.

The slapstick comedy subgenre, a term that originates from a type of wooden paddle with a hinged flap that was used in early comedic performances to create slapping noises during comedic actions, is a form of physical comedy characterized by exaggerated, boisterous, and often absurd actions, situations, and physical interactions. Slapstick humor relies on visual gags, physical stunts, and exaggerated movements to create laughs.

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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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The Plumber

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