Lost1914Thanhouser CompanyOne reelComedy

Why Reginald Reformed

Name: Why Reginald Reformed
Genre: Comedy
Released: 1914-02-01

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

“Reginald drank—and his wife’s arguments were of no avail. At last her patience gave out, and she determined to cure her husband by desperate means. Coming across a snake charmer’s advertisement in the paper, she has an inspiration. One evening when Reginald departs, Mrs. Margery smuggles into the house the snake charmer and all his venomous family. On his return Reginald meets snakes in his bedroom, more snakes in the reception room, an army of snakes in the dining room, performing most unusual feats—turn where he may, he cannot get away from the reptiles. Scared to death, he decides that he had been hitting it too strong, and takes a flying leap into the water wagon, much to the joy of his wife.”

Summary from Reel Life · 31 January 1914

What the papers said

2 reviews

Read in full · 1 min

“James Cruze appears as the one who reformed, while Mignon plays the part of his ingenious wife who devised the cure. There is much fun in this clever little comedy. A young husband likes to drink, and though his intentions are good he just will not listen to his wife’s pleas to cut the stuff out. So she engages a snake charmer for an evening. When the husband finds snakes all about his place he decides that it is time to reform, and he does so for all time.”

The Morning Telegraph · 8 February 1914

“If there are any prettier rooms than in Thanhouser pictures we don’t know where they are. This picture opens with a specimen of sets that are picturesque and elegant, but the story, though amusing, is not artistic. It is light, with broad humor; it is well acted and doesn’t drag. We think the majority will be amused by it.”

The Moving Picture World · 14 February 1914