His Wife's Secret (1926) Review: Bud Duncan's Face is Most of the Movie

Is it worth a watch?

Honestly, only if you have twenty minutes to kill and a high tolerance for people running in and out of rooms for no real reason. It is a very specific kind of fun.

If you hate old slapstick where people over-react to everything, stay far away from this one. You'll just get a headache.

I stumbled onto this while looking for In the Movies, and it felt like a weird little time capsule. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s definitely something someone made with a lot of energy.

Bud Duncan is the star here, and man, he has a weird energy. He spends about half the runtime looking like he’s about to explode.

His mustache alone deserves its own credit in the opening. It’s thin, twitchy, and seems to move independently of his mouth.

The plot is basically every sitcom misunderstanding ever. Bud thinks his wife, played by Thelma Hill, is hiding a secret lover or something equally scandalous.

Thelma Hill is actually pretty good here. She has these wide eyes that make her look perpetually surprised by her own husband’s stupidity.

There’s a scene early on where Bud is trying to peek through a door. The way he shuffles his feet is so unnecessary but it made me chuckle.

It’s those tiny physical bits that work. Not the big setups.

The middle of the movie gets a bit muddy. I lost track of who George Gray was supposed to be for a second.

Everyone is wearing similar suits. It’s just a sea of gray fabric and frantic hand gestures.

I kept thinking about A Wild Goose Chase while watching this. That one felt a bit more tightly wound than this mess.

One gag involves a heavy piece of furniture that looks incredibly fake. You can practically see the wood wobbling like it's made of cardboard.

I love when you can see the budget through the screen. It makes the whole thing feel more human and less like a product.

The 'secret' itself is so underwhelming that it almost feels like the movie is playing a prank on you. I won't spoil it, but don't expect a twist that’ll change your life.

It’s more about the journey of Bud Duncan losing his mind. Which, to be fair, is a pretty short trip for him.

There is a weirdly long shot of a letter on a table. It stays there for like ten seconds too long.

I started counting the scratches on the film print during that part. It’s like the editor took a nap 😴.

• Bud Duncan's mustache twitching: 10/10
• Logic of the husband's suspicion: 2/10
• Quality of the hats: Surprisingly high

The film stock is pretty rough in the version I saw. Lots of vertical lines and flickering that makes it look like it’s raining indoors.

It adds a bit of charm, I guess. Like listening to a record with a lot of pops and clicks.

I wonder if people in 1926 actually thought this was hilarious or if they just went because the theater had fans.

It feels a bit like a filler project. Something they knocked out in a weekend because they had the sets already built.

I noticed a dog in the background of one outdoor shot. He looked very confused by the actors.

The dog was the most relatable character in the whole thing. He just wanted to know why these people were shouting without making any noise.

If you're into the history of silent shorts, you might find it interesting to compare this to something like The Smile Wins.

But for a casual viewer? It’s just a loud, silent mess.

"His Wife's Secret isn't a secret for very long, and the movie doesn't seem to care."

The ending happens so fast I actually had to rewind it. One minute they are fighting, the next it's just... over.

Maybe they ran out of film. Or maybe they just got tired of Bud's face.

I don't regret watching it, but I don't think I'll ever need to see it again. It’s like a piece of chewing gum that lost its flavor in three minutes.

Anyway, it’s better than sitting in silence. Or maybe it isn't. 🤷‍♂️

If you're looking for something with a bit more meat on the bones, maybe try Webs of Steel instead. This one is strictly for the completionists or the very bored.

Bud Duncan is a legend in his own way, though. He really gives it 110% even when the material is 10%.

His facial expressions are a workout just to watch. I felt tired for him by the time the credits rolled.