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Married on the Wing
(1916) United States of America
B&W : Short film
Directed by Ernest Shields
Cast: Ernest Shields [Ernest Smythe], Lois Wilson [Grace Darling], Sherman Bainbridge [Jay Lee Bean], Roy McCray [the attorney]
The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated [Joker Comedies]. / From a screen story by Ben Cohn (Bennett Cohen). / Released 26 February 1916. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Comedy.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Ernie has just been notified by his attorney that his uncle has bequeathed his entire fortune to him on the condition that he marry Grace Darling, a girl to whom he has been engaged for some time. Owing to an unfortunate delay in getting the will, it happens that the same day on which the condition expires is the same day that Ernie is notified of his inheritance. In case Ernie fails to carry out his uncle’s wishes as expressed in his will, the estate will revert to Ernie’s cousin, Jay Lee Bean. While the attorney is telling Ernie of his good fortune. Jay comes in, and hearing his name mentioned, hides behind curtains and waits to learn more. Ernie is a good-looking young man. While they are talking, Jay sees Ernie frequently drinking cough medicine from a bottle and he gets a brilliant scheme to get possession of the estate himself. While Ernie is showing the attorney out, Jay dilutes the cough medicine with strong whiskey, and when Ernie returns, he finds the cough medicine has quite a different taste. While he is talking to Grace over the ’phone, telling of the condition of the will, he is seized with a violent coughing spell, and has access to his bottle of medicine. It takes only a few swallows of the potent remedy to put Ernie in an intoxicated condition. Jay comes in at this moment, pretending he has just arrived. He is greeted by Ernie as a long-lost brother. Jay persuades Ernie to take a cold plunge, and while the latter is in the bathroom. Jay locks the door and takes all of Ernie’s clothes and hides them. The cold water revives Ernie, and he realizes that he has only a short time to have his marriage performed. Unable to get out the door, he escapes through the window, clad only in his B.V.D.’s. In attempting to enter the house through a window to get his clothes, he is arrested by a policeman who takes him for a burglar. Grace, who is impatiently waiting at the church for Ernie to show up, finally calls up his home, and unable to get a response, communicates with the police station. Ernie recognizes her voice, and grabbing the phone from the astonished sergeant, quickly tells her of his predicament before the police can grab him. Unable to get any reply, Grace determines to investigate conditions at the police station. Ernie meanwhile has persuaded the police to allow him to go to the church, accompanied by an officer, and he and Grace miss each other on the journey. Ernie, learning that Grace has gone to seek him at the police station, grabs the preacher and hurries back to the police station. Grace, having missed Ernie, starts back for the church. The God of Chance is with them, for halfway between the two places they meet, and the ceremony is performed in the middle of the street. Just as the clock strikes twelve. The discomfited Jay has been foiled in his attempt to steal the inheritance, and for his pains is taken to the police station on the charge of speeding, while the happy couple hurry home to dress Ernie in more appropriate attire than that which he obtained in an old barn in his escape from the policeman.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 11 December 2024.
References: Drew-Speaking p. 288 : Website-IMDb.
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