Grass Skirts: A Wacky Silent Comedy That's... Something

Right, so, Grass Skirts. This one’s a quirky little trip back to silent film days. If you're someone who loves digging into old movies, especially the ones with a bit of a *wild* premise, you might actually get a kick out of it. Folks looking for modern pacing or super subtle humor? Probably gonna wanna skip this one. It's a very specific taste, a real snapshot of a certain kind of comedy.

The whole thing kicks off with a blonde socialite who really, really, really wants into the "Jolly Widows Club." Yep, that’s a thing. Her big problem is, well, she’s not a widow. So, what’s a girl to do? Marry an old rich guy who looks like he’s got one foot out the door, naturally. What could possibly go wrong with *that* plan? 😂

Ruth Hiatt plays our ambitious lead, and she’s got that classic silent film energy. All wide eyes and exaggerated gestures. You can practically hear her thinking, "Club membership, here I come!" She just barrels through the plot with this single-minded focus, almost oblivious to the chaos she’s stirring up.

Then there’s poor Lloyd Hamilton, playing the unwitting husband. He’s got some truly great reaction shots. You almost feel a little bad for him, this elderly gentleman suddenly caught in this whirlwind scheme. He’s not exactly thrilled, but he’s also not quite sure how to escape. One scene, he just looks utterly bewildered, like he’s wondering how he ended up in this mess. It’s pretty funny, honestly.

The film is pretty much a series of escalating shenanigans once the marriage is settled. The humor comes from the sheer audacity of the setup and the visual gags that follow. It’s not deep, not at all. It just *is*. The pacing is quick, jumping from one ridiculous situation to the next without much fuss.

And the title, Grass Skirts? That’s still a head-scratcher. There's not a single grass skirt in sight, nor any hula dancing, or anything remotely tropical that I remember. It’s almost like they picked a random, slightly exotic-sounding phrase for the marquee. It adds to the film’s odd charm, I guess. A weird little detail that sticks with you.

There's a moment when the club members are all together, looking very prim and proper, but you can feel this undercurrent of... well, *jolly* widowhood. It’s a strange concept, celebrating the passing of a spouse for social status. The film doesn't really dig into that irony, it just plays it for laughs, which is fine for what it is.

If you enjoy silent comedies that don’t take themselves too seriously and have a somewhat dark, yet goofy, premise, give Grass Skirts a look. It’s not a masterpiece, no, but it's a peculiar piece of film history that’ll make you chuckle. A good one for a lazy afternoon when you just want something different.