Danger, Go Slow (1918)

Muggsy Mulane, a waif who wears boy's clothing, jumps a freight train to the country after Jimmy "the Eel," the leader of the gang of crooks with whom she works, is arrested. In the village of Cottonville, Muggsy befriends Aunt Sarah, whom she later discovers is Jimmy's mother. When Muggsy learns that the greedy Judge Cotton, who holds the mortgage on Aunt Sarah's property, is planning to foreclose, she threatens to blackmail him, and he relents.

Overview
"Danger, Go Slow" is a comedy, silent short movie that was released in 1918 by New Comedy. Produced by Harold Lloyd under Hal Roach's supervision, this 13-minute movie features some of the prominent stars of the quiet period, consisting of Harold Lloyd, 'Snub' Pollard, and Bebe Daniels.

Plot
The movie revolves around the lead character, Harold Lloyd, who fills numerous functions as town solon, sheriff, and grocer. The storyline starts with Harold's love interest, Bebe Daniels, moving to New York City, leaving him behind in her rural town due to her ambition to end up being a prominent dancer.

In a twist, Harold stumbles upon a newspaper ad looking for a dance instructor in none other than New York City. Seizing the opportunity to reconnect with Bebe, Harold uses, attempting to fit into the sophisticated urban environment utilizing his rural 'beauty'. The town, dubbed 'Slow Motion,' guarantees hilarity as everyone and whatever appears to be in a state of continuous lethargy.

Humour and Gags
The humor mainly stems from situational irony, with jokes holding on Harold's efforts to find harmony within the radically various socio-cultural standards of New York. A large part of the comedic value originates from the 'Slow Motion' setting, where an old man takes permanently to draw his weapon, and a pet chases its tail in slow motion. This aspect of humor perfectly matches Lloyd's comic design.

Key Challenges
Although not all gags are hits, Harold encounters lots of fun obstacles. His absence of knowledge about high society etiquette and dance patterns in NYC compared to the rest of the nation creates amusing scenarios. For instance, he incorrectly analyzes tango as a physical battle instead of a dance type. Harold likewise gets puzzled by the city's speed, in stark contrast to his home town's sluggish speed.

Advancement and Climax
The emphasize of the movie is when Harold gets incorrect for a robber by Bebe and her buddies and is pursued by them. In an engaging chase, Harold demonstrates his dance abilities in an unusual method, combining cleverly choreographed action series with humor. This sequence creates some good laughs in the movie.

Conclusion
The film does not bank on fancy plots or subplots; rather, greatly counting on Lloyd's facial expressions and body language to cause humor. The details of the city life, juxtaposed with Harold's provincial methods, enhance the general funny. Though the period is short, it manages to load a punch in regards to entertainment quotient.

"Danger, Go Slow" ends with the lead character's antic-filled journey back to his home town, concluding with a tip of understated love, cleverly presented through Harold's reunion with Bebe. The movie reassures the audience that despite the breakneck speed of 'normal' life, there's always space for laughter, and, undoubtedly, one need not always rush through life - 'Danger, Go Slow'.

Top Cast

Mae Murray

Mugsy Mulane
Jack Mulhall

Jimmy, the Eel
Lon Chaney

Bud
Lydia Knott

Aunt Sarah
Joseph W. Girard

Judge Cotton
Hoot Gibson