Mrs. Jones' Lover; or, 'I Want My Hat' (1909) User Reviews

More of the delightful difficulties of the Jones family

[deickemeyer · 15 December 2014]

A Biograph rendition of some more of the delightful difficulties of the Jones family: It would be an interesting programme to see this series of Jones' mixups one after another. They are among the most amusing pictures that have ever been produced and the series would make a good entertainment. In this instance the tables are turned and Mr. Jones discovers evidences that his wife has had a caller and when she refuses to make everything plain he goes tearing through the house, bent upon destroying everything that comes in his way. The innocent cause of the disturbance in searching for his hat is almost stabbed with a sword, but after extricating Mrs. Jones from under a chair and receiving the explanation of the maid regarding the presence of the man in the house Mr. Jones is quite ready to ask forgiveness. The picture is funny and the laughter as it closes would be cheering to the actors if they could hear it. Technically it is satisfactory and the action is lively and in harmony with the subject. - The Moving Picture World, September 4, 1909

Murder-Mystery

[Single-Black-Male · 23 June 2004]

There was a kind of murder-mystery feel to this short offering. I got the impression that the 34 year old D.W. Griffith wasn't quite sure what sort of a short film this was going to be. It ends up being a hybrid of all sorts of things, and leaves the audience at a loss as to how to label it. Once again, the cinematographer collaborates the classical composer to tell the story, forcing Griffith into the shadows. It's not a work of art but an experiment stating the growing potential of this moving image medium. The editing is quite rustic, but the scenes seem to segue in and out of each other fairly smoothly.