''Hay Foot, Straw Foot'' is a 1919 American silent

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 ...

film directed by

Jerome Storm Jerome Storm (November 11, 1890 – July 10, 1958) was an American film director, actor, and writer. He acted in 48 films between 1914 and 1941 and directed 47 films between 1918 and 1932. He was born in Denver, Colorado, and died in Desert ...

and written by

Julien Josephson Julien Josephson (October 24, 1881 – April 14, 1959) was an American motion picture screenwriter. His career spanned between 1914 and 1943. He was a native of Roseburg, Oregon. Career Josephson was well known for his early silent mov ...

. The film stars Charles Ray,

Doris May Doris May (born Helen Garrett; October 15, 1902 – May 12, 1984), was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 29 films between 1917 and 1927, generally as a leading lady. Most of her roles were in westerns and comedies, although ...

William Conklin William Conklin (December 25, 1872 – March 21, 1935) was an American actor. He appeared in more than 80 silent films between 1913 and 1929. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and died in Hollywood, California. Partial filmography * ''Ariz ...

Spottiswoode Aitken Frank Spottiswoode Aitken (16 April 1868 – 26 February 1933) was a Scottish-American actor of the silent era. He played Dr. Cameron in D. W. Griffith's epic drama ''The Birth of a Nation''. Early years Aitken was born 16 April 1868 in Edinb ...

and

J. P. Lockney John P. Loughlin, known professionally as John P. Lockney, was an American actor of the silent film era. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1915 and 1937. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.. Partial filmography * '' The Bride of ...

. The film was released on June 22, 1919, by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

. It is not known whether the film currently survives.

Plot

As described in a

film magazine Film periodicals combine discussion of individual films, genres and directors with in-depth considerations of the medium and the conditions of its production and reception. Their articles contrast with film reviewing in newspapers and magazines whi ...

, enlistee Ulysses S. Grant Briggs (Ray) is bound by his father Thaddeus Briggs (Aitken), a veteran of the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

, to emulate his illustrious namesake in all things. He is charged in a

court-martial A court-martial (plural ''courts-martial'' or ''courts martial'', as "martial" is a postpositive adjective) is a military court or a trial conducted in such a court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the arme ...

for entering a notorious

roadhouse Roadhouse may refer to: Premises * Roadhouse (premises), a mixed-use premise to service passing travellers * Receiving house or roadhouse, a theatre for touring theatre companies * A truck stop in rural Australia Arts and entertainment Film * '' ...

against orders and rescuing Betty Martin (May), a young woman who aspires to the stage and had just taken part in a military camp entertainment, from the wiles of a man posing as a

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...

agent. His father appears at the camp hearing and insists that his boy must have had a good reason for his action, but his son refuses to speak. Betty considers the disgrace she caused to the young man, comes to the camp and tells her story and secures his acquittal.

Cast

* Charles Ray as Ulysses S. Grant Briggs *

as Betty Martin *

as Harry Weller *

as Thaddeus Briggs *

as Jeff Hanan

Reception

The

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

review was mostly positive, finding the story to be "slight" but that the acting more than made up for it. Great praise was given to Doris May, who the reviewer described as "a mighty clever little ingenue" and "enacts her role charmingly.

References

External links

* 1919 films 1910s English-language films Silent American comedy films 1919 comedy films Paramount Pictures films Films directed by Jerome Storm American Civil War films American black-and-white films American silent feature films 1910s American films {{AmericanCivilWar-film-stub

Plot

Cast

Reception

See also

References

External links