There isn’t much to this short film. It runs for less than 4 minutes, and is nothing special, save for its final scene. That final scene is why it’s on my list, and why I watched, for it is allegedly the first example of someone taking a pie to the face in a film. There are, of course, rumors that two films preceded this monumental achievement, but I can find neither Family Troubles (1900) nor The Coal Strike (1905) to verify this claim. I’m not even sure if those films are considered lost, or if they are merely difficult to find. Nonetheless, Mr. Flip is the first absolutely confirmed use of the ol’ pie-in-the-face gag, and for that it has earned its place in cinema immortality.
This film, directed by Broncho Billy himself, Gilbert M. Anderson, was released on May 12, 1909, and stars Ben Turpin as the titular character. He bears more than a passing resemblance to Groucho Marx, enough for one to wonder if Marx borrowed some of his look from Turpin. The film chronicles Mr. Flip’s day as he goes about town, unsuccessfully flirting with women. His method involves reaching out to pat a woman’s cheek, and every woman he meets rebuffs him. More than that, they attack him. He’s stabbed with scissors by one, and electrocuted by another, but he doesn’t learn his lesson. He even brazenly reaches out to pat the cheek of a female barber who is in the process of shaving his face with a straight razor. Mr. Flip takes risks!
The film ends with Mr. Flip at the counter of a soda fountain, where he tries to pat the cheek of the waitress. She smushes a pie in his face, and the film ends.
This was an early role for Ben Turpin, who went on to act in 239 films, seemingly all of which were comedies. He had crossed eyes, which he used to comic advantage, first in Vaudeville, then later in motion pictures. It’s in the public domain, and I watched it on YouTube. You can, too. One caveat, there is a brief snippet of sound at the beginning, and then utter silence save for one moment later in the film, so don’t be thrown off by the sound cutting out.
Next I’m watching: The Country Doctor [1909], directed by D.W. Griffith.
Mr. Flip (May 12, 1909)