Summary
In this episodic silent comedy, the Gump family embarks on a flivver road trip, quickly finding themselves entangled in a series of escalating absurdities. Patriarch Andy, ever the moralizer, attempts to instill discipline through calisthenics, only for an ant invasion to turn Min’s demonstration into an impromptu hula, much to little Chester’s impressionable delight. When the ants inevitably target Chester and then Andy himself, the family’s attempts at decorum collapse into a shared, involuntary dance of discomfort. Further misadventure ensues when Chester’s playground brawl with a larger boy draws Andy into an enthusiastic, if short-lived, paternal pride, only for the bully’s giant father to issue a challenge that necessitates Min’s intervention. The Gumps are subsequently ousted from their campsite, forcing a return home where Min, unbeknownst to herself, embarks on a somnambulistic journey across treacherous construction beams high above the city. Andy, paralyzed by fear of waking her, is forced to follow in a terrifying aerial pursuit, prompting Chester to alert the fire department. The ensuing rescue, involving a serendipitous stew bum and a gravity-defying water jet, culminates in a dizzying descent for Andy and Min, bringing their latest escapade to a truly bizarre conclusion.
Synopsis
On a flivver trip in the west, the Gumps are encamped. Andy demonstrates how Min can reduce by following his instructions in daily calisthenics. Some ants get down her back and she does the hula, a bad example to set for little Chester, says Andy. He is shocked when the ants get at Chester, who goes through the same contortions. While he is moralizing the insects reach him and he does it too. Chester gets into a flight with a big boy and begins to get the best of him. Andy draws up and enthuses over the fighting Gump, just like his father. The strange boy's father, a giant, announces that if Chester whips his boy, he will fight Andy. Andy calls for Min, who makes Chester stop. The Gumps are thrown off the land, which belongs to the bully. They go back home and go to bed. Min walks in her sleep, out the window to a steel beam, thence to a building in construction, where she walks confidently over dizzy heights. Andy, afraid to wake her up, follows, crawling along the perilous beams. Chester calls out the fire department. A stew bum gets hold of the fire hose and throws a stream in the air upon which Gump falls. He is lifted on the water jet to the top of the frame, where Min is in danger. He grabs Min and they are both lowered to safety on the receding water jet.
Review Excerpt
"Is Min Walks in Her Sleep worth watching today? Short answer: yes, but with significant caveats. This 1920s silent comedy offers a fascinating glimpse into early slapstick and the enduring appeal of the Gump family, making it a compelling watch for film historians, silent cinema enthusiasts, and those curious about the roots of physical comedy. However, modern audiences accustomed to intricate narratives and sophisticated humor may find its episodic structure and broad gags less engaging.
This f..."
