This film basically depicts a spoof melodrama as interrupted by a spoof censor ("a little ray of darkness in this bright world"). Neither spoof is all that funny, although there are a couple of good gags to be had in both departments: the 'undrinking' of the glasses of beer at the censor's insistence, while a technically simple piece of trick film, is unexpected and hence amusing, while the romance between Miss Ford and the gallant Major Cowley offers some very bad puns in the intertitles -- unfortunately you probably need to know something about the car manufacturers of the era to appreciate the intended humour.
As a period piece it holds separate interest in its mockery of contemporary censors' concerns: I don't know how accurate the specific lists of features disapproved of are, but they're definitely in the spirit of genuine complaints of the time. (Samples: "The irreverent treatment of sacred subjects", "The modus operandi of criminals", "Unnecessary exhibition of feminine underclothing" and "Bathing scenes passing the limits of propriety"...) It also pokes fun at war heroics and the use of highly-unsuitable stock shots: the advancing train starts off as a typical American wood-burner and ends up as a suburban 9:30 from Euston!
A mildly amusing comedy and unintentional piece of social history.
As a period piece it holds separate interest in its mockery of contemporary censors' concerns: I don't know how accurate the specific lists of features disapproved of are, but they're definitely in the spirit of genuine complaints of the time. (Samples: "The irreverent treatment of sacred subjects", "The modus operandi of criminals", "Unnecessary exhibition of feminine underclothing" and "Bathing scenes passing the limits of propriety"...) It also pokes fun at war heroics and the use of highly-unsuitable stock shots: the advancing train starts off as a typical American wood-burner and ends up as a suburban 9:30 from Euston!
A mildly amusing comedy and unintentional piece of social history.
