1916FalstaffOne reelComedy

Disguisers

Also released as Pearl’s Perfidy

No copy you can watch online. No print is known to survive. What follows is what does: the release, the cast, the story, and what the trade press said at the time.

The story

“When Oscar returned from his honeymoon, Conrad was unhappy, for Conrad had been a rejected suitor. He decides to make trouble. The plotter’s way was made easier by the sudden arrival of a man who Pearl introduced as ‘my Uncle Dave of Dakota.’ Conrad agreed to closely watch Pearl and any callers she might have. Oscar and Conrad were their own detectives, and gained admission to the house in various disguises, but with uniform ill luck. ‘Uncle Dave of Dakota’ appeared, and the husband, from his place of hiding, saw him kiss the beauteous Pearl. But Uncle Dave was really an uncle, and had called with a deed for a house and lot as his wedding present. He was treated roughly, and tore up the deed.”

Summary from Reel Life · 27 May 1916

What the papers said

1 review

“There is not a very strong element of comedy in this number in which a discarded lover tries to separate husband and wife by concocting a false story and persuading the husband to disguise as a plumber, a painter, etc. at different times, in order to discover his wife’s supposed perfidy. The suspected man turns out to be the wife’s uncle, who is about to give the newly-married couple the deed of one of his houses as a wedding present.”

The Moving Picture World · 3 June 1916

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Cast and crew

Frank E. McNish as Conrad
Louise Emerald Bates as Pearl, Oscar’s bride
Riley Chamberlin as Uncle Dave from Dakota

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Bowers’ notes

The title was listed erroneously as Disguises in a synopsis in The Moving Picture World, June 3, 1916.

From Volume II: Filmography of Q. David Bowers’ Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History, reproduced with permission and unchanged. Read the history of 1916 →

Cite as: Bowers, Q. David. Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History, “Disguisers”. thanhouser.org/films/disguisers/

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