A Clever Dummy

A Clever Dummy
A Clever Dummy
Directed by	Ferris Hartman; Robert P. Kerr; Herman C. Raymaker; Mack Sennett
Written by	Mack Sennett
Produced by	Mack Sennett
Starring	Ben Turpin
Cinematography	Elgin Lessley
Production; company	Keystone Studios
Distributed by	Triangle Film Corporation
Release date	June 28, 1917;
Running time	23 minutes
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

A Clever Dummy is a 1917 American short comedy film directed by Ferris Hartman, Robert P. Kerr, Herman C. Raymaker, and Mack Sennett.

Plot

Ben Turpin is a janitor who is in love with an inventor's daughter, and is used as a model for the inventor's new mechanical dummy. To be near to her, he hides inside the dummy's case and is shipped off to a vaudeville company. He has to stay in character as the dummy, which he succeeds at. The property master stores him in Juanita Hansen's dressing room, where he steals a wad of bills, and a chase ensues.^[1]

Cast

Ben Turpin as A romantic janitor
Chester Conklin as A playful property man
Wallace Beery as A vaudeville manager
Juanita Hansen as A leading lady
Claire Anderson as An object of affection
James Donnelly as Her inventive father
James Delano as His interested partner
Joseph Belmont as Bald Husband in Audience (uncredited)
Robert Milliken as Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
Marvel Rea (Minor Role) (uncredited)
Eva Thatcher as Wife in Audience (uncredited)

References

^ "The Bioscope - Thursday 18 October 1917". British Newspaper Archive. London: The Bioscope. October 18, 1917. p. 52. Retrieved March 5, 2025.

External links

A Clever Dummy at IMDb
The short film A Clever Dummy is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.

This 1910s short comedy film–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "The Bioscope - Thursday 18 October 1917". British Newspaper Archive. London: The Bioscope. October 18, 1917. p. 52. Retrieved March 5, 2025.

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