First of all, I am not sure if this is the right movie. But, I will say that the title presented here is an appropriate one, and that the credited actors (Vernon Dent and Violet Joy) are correct. The film I saw, which I believe this one is, had a title along the lines of 'Sleeping Sickness.' I have looked that title up and the only film on the IMDb that surfaces is not this one.
In the story of the film I saw, which I believe this one is, Vernon has a hen that will lay as many eggs as he wants when he blows a whistle. There is a scene where he has an attractive young lady (who looks a lot like Duane Thompson) hold the hen in her apron and when he blows his whistle and retrieves the hen, her apron has gained a dozen or so eggs.
Vernon likes likes a girl, Violet Joy, but so does a city-slicker (the intertitle credits Walter Wills) who decides to play a trick on Vernon. He sabotages Vernon's breakfast with an elixir that will make him sleepwalk. This will undoubtedly hinder Vernon's plans to will the $500 prize of the up-and-coming hen-laying contest.
At less than ten minutes in duration, maybe even less than eight, this is a rather disappointingly short film. At the same time, some comic opportunities are wasted (the trip to the county fair results in no prat falls). Still it is a charming and nostalgia-inspiring piece of work which I hope will eventually be made more widely available. And despite it's shortcomings, Vernon Dent seems like a more than able comedian. A portly, baby-faced fellow who resembles Roscoe Arbuckle, he has a great ability for expression and does his stunts well. It is a shame he is overlooked today.
In the story of the film I saw, which I believe this one is, Vernon has a hen that will lay as many eggs as he wants when he blows a whistle. There is a scene where he has an attractive young lady (who looks a lot like Duane Thompson) hold the hen in her apron and when he blows his whistle and retrieves the hen, her apron has gained a dozen or so eggs.
Vernon likes likes a girl, Violet Joy, but so does a city-slicker (the intertitle credits Walter Wills) who decides to play a trick on Vernon. He sabotages Vernon's breakfast with an elixir that will make him sleepwalk. This will undoubtedly hinder Vernon's plans to will the $500 prize of the up-and-coming hen-laying contest.
At less than ten minutes in duration, maybe even less than eight, this is a rather disappointingly short film. At the same time, some comic opportunities are wasted (the trip to the county fair results in no prat falls). Still it is a charming and nostalgia-inspiring piece of work which I hope will eventually be made more widely available. And despite it's shortcomings, Vernon Dent seems like a more than able comedian. A portly, baby-faced fellow who resembles Roscoe Arbuckle, he has a great ability for expression and does his stunts well. It is a shame he is overlooked today.