There are some good comic bits in this Biograph comedy directed by Mack Sennett before he broke for his own company, Keystone: the interrupted elopement, the shooting of Eddie Dillon's hat and the hefty man in drag are all pretty good.
Where the piece falls apart is the telegraphing of the conclusion partway through. Eddie watches a movie company shooting a marriage scene and gets the idea of setting up his own fake camera and getting sweetheart Mabel as the bride when the "movie" bride collapses -- and communicates this plan to Mabel by a letter which is reproduced on the screen. And it all goes off without a hitch.
The flawless proceedings make the remainder of the movie pretty much a yawn. Even the extreme comic reaction of Frank Opperman as Mabel's father can't do much.
Where the piece falls apart is the telegraphing of the conclusion partway through. Eddie watches a movie company shooting a marriage scene and gets the idea of setting up his own fake camera and getting sweetheart Mabel as the bride when the "movie" bride collapses -- and communicates this plan to Mabel by a letter which is reproduced on the screen. And it all goes off without a hitch.
The flawless proceedings make the remainder of the movie pretty much a yawn. Even the extreme comic reaction of Frank Opperman as Mabel's father can't do much.