Is Pretty Baby (1924) actually funny or just old?

So I found myself digging through some old archives and ended up watching Pretty Baby from 1924.

Is it worth your time today? Honestly, only if you are the kind of person who finds old-timey slapstick weirdly comforting or if you're a silent film completionist.

If you hate flickering black-and-white footage and people making 'O' shapes with their mouths to show surprise, you will absolutely hate this. 🎞️

Wallace Lupino is the lead here, and if that name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s part of that massive Lupino acting dynasty.

He has this very specific way of moving—sort of like his joints are made of loose springs.

The plot is barely there, which is typical for these shorts. It’s mostly just an excuse for Monte Collins and Lupino to get into trouble.

There is this one scene with a baby carriage that feels stressful even though you know it’s a silent movie gag.

The way they handle the 'baby' in some shots is hilarious because it is so obviously a heavy sack of flour or a doll. 👶

At one point, the baby is just sort of... tossed. It’s the kind of physical comedy that would get a movie canceled today, but back then, it was just a Tuesday.

I noticed the sets look incredibly flimsy, like a stiff breeze would knock the 'house' over.

It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in The Sawmill, though maybe a little less dangerous-looking.

There’s a weird bit of business with a hat that goes on for way too long. Like, thirty seconds of just messing with a brim.

I found myself wondering if the actors were just killing time because they didn't have enough script for the reel.

Lucille Hutton pops up too, and she’s fine, though she mostly just has to look annoyed at the men.

Which, to be fair, is a very relatable reaction to Wallace Lupino's character.

The print I saw was pretty beat up, which actually adds to the vibe. It feels like watching a ghost story that’s trying to be funny.

I think the comedy works best when it’s just pure movement.

There’s a sequence where they’re trying to hide that is actually timed pretty well.

It’s not quite as polished as something like The Man on the Box, but it has that scrappy indie feel.

You can tell they were just making it up as they went along in the sun-drenched lots of California.

Sometimes the camera lingers on a background extra who looks deeply confused about why they are there.

I love those little human moments in silent shorts where the 'magic' slips for a second.

The title Pretty Baby is also used for like, fifty other movies, so don't get it confused with the Brooke Shields one. That would be a very different evening.

This is much more in line with something like Puppy Love—just simple, sugary, and slightly chaotic.

One thing that struck me was the makeup. Everyone has these dark, kohl-rimmed eyes that make them look like they haven't slept since 1919.

It gives the whole comedy a slightly haunted look that I really dig. 👻

There isn't much of a 'message' here, obviously. It's just guys falling over.

But there is something about the timing of the falls that feels more 'real' than modern CGI stunts.

When Wallace hits the ground, you can almost feel the dust kicking up into his lungs.

The ending is abrupt, as if they just ran out of film and decided to go to lunch.

I didn't mind it, though. Sometimes a movie stays too long, but this one knows when to quit.

If you've got ten minutes and want to see what people thought was peak humor a century ago, give it a look.

It’s a weird little window into a world where a stolen baby was a great setup for a punchline.

Just don't expect it to change your life or anything. It's just a relic that still has a little bit of spark left in it.