Volume II: Filmography

THE RESCUE OF MR. HENPECK

June 9, 1911 (Friday)

Length: 300 feet (split with Motoring, a 700-foot subject, at the beginning)

Character: Comedy

Cast: Harry Benham

ADVERTISEMENT, The Moving Picture World, June 3, 1911:

"Will entertain all apron-string hubbies and a few others."

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, June 11, 1911:

"Henpeck is the usual comic supplement sort of abused husband who endeavors to get away from his wife and in doing so meets with all sorts of amusing experiences. He goes for a walk with the baby, however, and whatever else he attempts to do the wife is 'right on the job' with some work for him to do or some timely admonition of one sort of another. In the end Henpeck decides to take drastic steps and knowing that his wife really loves him he believes that an attempt at suicide may bring her to a full realization of her tyranny. He escapes from the house and ties a rope to a tree, making a swing of it with a loop hanging from the end. Climbing into the tree the wife sees him from a balcony and makes a made dash for her neighbors, telling them that Henpeck is about to commit suicide. He is chased from the tree, the wife pouring a bucket of water on him, when a mad chase through the house ensues, reminding one of a typical European crockery smashing contest. For broad burlesque it is funny to those who like this sort of comedy."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture News, May 27, 1911:

"Here are a few hundred feet of funny film that give an accurate depiction of a recent adventure of a certain chap by name of Henpeck, and much genuine entertainment will be afforded apron-string hubbies and some others."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, June 10, 1911:

"Like most comedies the plot in this story is very trivial, but the way in which it is played is amusing in the extreme. Someone who is familiar with Henpeck's trouble thinks he is trying to hang himself and in her excitement calls the police and assembles a large crowd of people. It develops that it was all a mistake, but some lively fun ensues before the discovery."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, June 24, 1911:

"This is a good, light farce. It shows Mr. Henpeck having a hard time of it. It is no wonder that when the hired girl saw him tying a rope to the apple tree she thought he was about to hang himself and alarmed the neighborhood. It's pleasant to see Henpeck's smile as he sits rocking the baby in the swing he has made."

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, June 14, 1911:

"This is a good burlesque in the nature of a cartoon, and has the added merit of some point to it. Mr. Henpeck is in general demand by his wife and, while she goes marketing, he is commanded to mind the baby. While he is fastening a rope to make a swing for the baby, the maid, mindful of his lot, thinks he is attempting suicide. She informs her mistress, who gathers a crowd of alarmed citizens on her return, who manage to wreck her home in their endeavor to relieve the situation. They arrive to find Henpeck calmly swinging with the baby - an amusing climax."

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