With William Gillette finally showing up on the big screen as Sherlock Holmes the previous year, it was the best of times for lampoons of the Great Detective. Besides Douglas Fairbanks' THE MYSTERY OF THE LEAPING FISH, Lyons and Moran appeared in this one, in which they are hired to find a stolen child, finger cub reporter Edith Roberts as the culprit.... well, Al Christie may have insisted there would be no slapstick, but director Louis Chaudet had no such compunctions, down to the mismatched clothes. Both the stars wear deerstalkers and smoke calabash pipes. One is Potts and the other is Pans, and they are, of course, one is the master and the other the student. I'm not sure which.

It's notable for an early appearance by Kewpie Morgan, and a small dog they carry around like a satchel. And the punch line is good.

The farce subgenre features exaggerated situations, slapstick humor, mistaken identities, and chaotic, rapid-fire events. Farces are known for their absurd and over-the-top comedic elements, often involving misunderstandings, physical comedy, and improbable scenarios.

Leslie Nielsen, Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, and Lorna Patterson in Airplane! (1980)

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.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

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.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

Detective Potts searches for a missing child. Don't worry--Detective Potts, his trusty sidekick Pan and their faithful dog Roxy are on the case.

Eddie Lyons and Lee Moran in What a Clue Will Do (1917)

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"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

What a Clue Will Do

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