''Ask Father'' is a short, 13-minute, slapstick-style

comedy Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. Origins Comedy originated in ancient Greec ...

made by

Harold Lloyd Harold Clayton Lloyd Sr. (April 20, 1893 – March 8, 1971) was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer who appeared in many Silent film, silent comedy films.Obituary ''Variety'', March 10, 1971, page 55. One of the most influent ...

in 1919 before his entry into full-length feature films. Aside from Lloyd, it features

Snub Pollard Harold Fraser (9 November 1889 – 19 January 1962), known professionally as Snub Pollard, was an Australian-born vaudevillian who became a silent film comedian in Hollywood, popular in the 1920s. Career Born in Melbourne, Australia, on 9 No ...

and leading lady

Bebe Daniels Phyllis Virginia "Bebe" () Daniels (January 14, 1901 – March 16, 1971) was an American actress, singer, dancer, writer, and producer. She began her career in Hollywood during the silent film era as a child actress, became a star in musicals s ...

Plot

Lloyd is a serious young middle-class guy on the make, who wants to marry the boss’ daughter. The problem is getting in to see the boss so that he can ask for her hand in marriage; the office is guarded by a bunch of comic, clumsy flunkies who throw everyone out who tries to get in. When Lloyd gets into the boss’ office, the latter uses trap doors and conveyor belts to expel him; Lloyd then goes to the costume company next door, tries to get in wearing drag (no success), and then in medieval armor – that works, since he bangs everyone over the head with his club. When he learns that the daughter has eloped with another suitor, Lloyd decides to be sensible and he settles for the cute switchboard operator (Daniels) instead. The film includes a brief wall climbing sequence.

Cast

- The Boy *

- Switchboard operator *

- The Corn-Fed Secretary *

Wallace Howe Wallace Howe (March 4, 1878, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts – November 23, 1957, in Los Angeles, California), born Orlando Wallace Howe, was an American film actor. He appeared in 104 films between 1918 and 1936, including many films with Harold L ...

- The Boss *

Bud Jamison William Edward "Bud" Jamison (February 15, 1894 – September 30, 1944)Okuda, Ted, and Edward Watz. 1999. The Columbia Comedy Shorts: Two-reel Hollywood Film Comedies 1933–1958'. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. . was an American film actor. ...

- Guardian at the door *

Noah Young Noah Young, Jr. (February 2, 1887 – April 18, 1958) was a champion weightlifter and actor. Biography Young was born in Cañon City, Colorado. His father, Noah Young, was a foreman of the Glenrock coal mine who later became a coal mine i ...

- Large office worker *

Sammy Brooks Sammy Brooks (July 10, 1891 – May 16, 1951) was an American film actor. He appeared in 218 films between 1916 and 1938. He was born in New York City and died in Los Angeles, California. Selected filmography * '' Luke, the Candy Cut-Up'' ...

- Short office worker *

Marie Mosquini Marie Mosquini (born Marie de Esy; December 3, 1899 – February 21, 1983) was an American film actress. Biography Born in 1899, Mosquini appeared in more than 200 silent films between 1917 and 1929. After leaving high school she became the res ...

- The Boy's First Love *

James Parrott James Parrott (August 2, 1897 – May 10, 1939) was an American actor and film director; and the younger brother of film comedian Charley Chase. Biography Early years James Gibbons Parrott was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Charles a ...

- Willie, The Boy’s Rival * Harry Burns * William Gillespie - Office worker *

Lew Harvey Lew Harvey (October 6, 1887 – December 19, 1953) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 140 films between 1918 and 1950. He was born in Wisconsin, educated in Portland, Oregon, and died in Los Angeles, California. Selected f ...

Margaret Joslin Margaret Joslin (August 6, 1883 – October 14, 1956), born Margaret Lucy Gosling, was an American film actress. She appeared in more than 160 films between 1910 and 1923. She was born Cleveland, Ohio and died in Glendale, California. She wa ...

Dorothea Wolbert Dorothea Wolbert (April 12, 1874 – September 15, 1958) was an American film actress. She appeared in more than 140 films between 1916 and 1957. She appeared on the television series ''I Love Lucy'' (with her character named Dorothea Wolbe ...

* Charles Stevenson - The Cop

Music

In 2013, the

Dallas Chamber Symphony The Dallas Chamber Symphony (DCS) is a professional, American chamber orchestra that performs in the Moody Performance Hall in the Arts District, Dallas. Founded in 2011, and led by artistic director, Richard McKay; the DCS presented its first ...

commissioned an original film score for ''Ask Father'' from composer

Alain Mayrand Alain Mayrand is a Canadian composer, orchestrator, and conductor known for his contributions to film music. He served as the lead composer for the animated feature film '' Mosley'' and has contributed to the scores of major motion pictures such as ...

. The score premiered during a concert screening on November 19, 2013 at

Moody Performance Hall The Moody Performance Hall (formerly Dallas City Performance Hall) is a performing arts venue located in the Arts District of Downtown Dallas, Texas, USA. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) in collaboration with the Architect of ...

with

Richard McKay Richard McKay (born 1982) is an American conductor, currently serving as music director of the Dallas Chamber Symphony. Education McKay holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in orchestral conducting from the Peabody Institute, where he studied ...

conducting.

References

External links

* * * 1919 films 1919 comedy films 1919 short films 1910s American films 1910s English-language films American black-and-white films English-language comedy short films Films directed by Hal Roach Films with screenplays by H. M. Walker Silent American comedy short films Surviving American silent films {{1910s-short-comedy-film-stub

Plot

Cast

Music

See also

References

External links