Hands Off (1927)
Directed by Ernest Laemmle
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Synopsis by Hans J. Wollstein
The founder of Universal, "Uncle" Carl Laemmle, had, as the writer Ogden Nash once pointed out, "quite a big faemmle." Laemmle was a great believer in nepotism and countless members of the Laemmle clan worked at one time or another for the studio. Nephews Edward and Ernest Laemmle directed routine series Westerns and the latter helmed this quite inventive Fred Humes entry. Humes was perhaps not a great thespian but he did boast the largest Stetson in the industry. This time around, Humes promises a dying miner he will look after his ward (Helen Foster. Soon, the place is overrun with varmints, all lusting after Miss Foster and her inheritance. The novelty here, however, was the comedy relief, played to the hilt by gangly Nelson McDowell and rotund Scotty Mattraw. One knowledgeable Western film historian has suggested that the teaming was most likely inspired by the internationally beloved Danish comedians Pat and Patachon.
Characteristics
Keywords
cowboy, lawman, outlaw [Western], sidekick