Five and Ten Cent Annie: A Quirky Silent Film Worth a Look?

Okay, so Five and Ten Cent Annie – this one’s a real curio. If you're someone who loves diving into the deep end of early cinema, you'll probably get a kick out of its goofy charm and straightforward antics. It's a quick, light watch, and honestly, it holds up better than some other silent comedies from the era. But if you’re looking for complex narratives or anything resembling modern pacing, you might find yourself checking your watch. This is for the patient and the curious, not the casual Saturday night popcorn crowd. It's a sweet, simple story about a guy trying to get his inheritance. 😊

The premise here? Pure silent film gold. Elmer Peck, a street cleaner, has this amazing chance at a million dollars. A million! From his uncle Adam. He just has to keep his valet, Briggs, on the payroll until he marries Annie. And then show up at the judge's office by 5 p.m. on a certain day. Sounds easy, right?

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Five and Ten Cent Annie (1928) through its definitive frames.

Well, not when Briggs is a total menace. That valet, played by George Beranger, is just _gleefully_ trying to mess everything up. You can almost see him rubbing his hands together in the corner of the frame sometimes. He’s not subtle, which is part of the fun.

Tom Ricketts as Elmer is just this earnest, wide-eyed guy. He's got that classic underdog vibe going. You really root for him, especially when Briggs