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Movie poster: The Chief Cook (1917)
🎬 Movie

The Chief Cook

1917 · 25 min Comedy
4.5 / 10 · TMDB

The film opens in the lobby of a small hotel, where the desk clerk/owner (Budd Ross) is addressing three members of staff: the cook, the waiter and the bellboy. It is obvious from their reactions, particularly the cook (Leo White) that whatever was said did not go down too well. His animated arms knock down the man standing behind him repeatedly until all three servants simultaneously quit. They storm off into the adjoining kitchen where a slavery maid (Blanche White) is on the floor scrubbing the floor. The men all trip over her, moan briefly and then leave.

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📋 Film Details

Year 1917
Country United States of America
Genre Comedy
Director Arvid E. Gillstrom
Runtime 25 min.
Rating TMDB: 4.5/10 (5 votes)

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🎬 MovieFinder's Take

The short film constructs its silent comedy around a chain of absurd physical reactions, where a single gesture of frustration triggers a cascade of mishaps. It relies entirely on expressive pantomime and simple gags of collision and pratfall.

What lingers after the brief chaos is the pure, uncomplicated silliness of early slapstick, where everyone is just one stumble away from quitting. — MovieFinder Editorial

Director: Arvid E. Gillstrom

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With your morning coffee for a quick dose of lighthearted, physical silliness.

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