Grandma's Child

"Some people have bright futures; others are married," says an opening title even before we glimpse the protagonists illustrating that bleak sentiment in this nonetheless frantic silent comedy. Bobby Ray stars as the husband whose mutual sub-bliss with a blonde flapper wife is sustained by her mother's cheques (which were intended to support the offspring they haven't bothered to have). When the suspicious mother-in-law pays a visit, the shameless duo pull out all stops to provide a baby... anyone's baby! A juvenile star (as Bobby Feuhrer) turned antic male-ingenue comedian, Bobby Ray gave up acting shortly after this two-reeler. He went on to a long second career as an assistant director, stretching from 1930s "B" westerns to 1950s TV series episodes. - Dennis Harvey